In 1959 the IMO was created. Its first task was to revise and re-adopt the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).
In addition, further international regulations were developed and adopted over the years:
international collision rules
global standards for seafarers
international conventions on search and rescue
facilitation of international maritime transport
load linestransport of dangerous goods
measurement of tonnage
The Maritime Safety Committee is the IMO's supreme technical body for safety issues. It is assisted in its work by several Sub-Committees:
Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC)
Ship Design and Construction (SDC)
Implementation of IMO Instruments (III)
Navigation, Communications, and Search and Rescue (NCSR)
Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW)
Ship Systems and Equipment (SSE)
Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR)