Bahrain17,18
Cambodia19
Cuba
Denmark
Ecuador
Finland
Greece
Iceland
India20
Indonesia21
Iraq22
Malaysia23
Mexico
Morocco
Norway
Poland
Spain
Sri Lanka24
Sweden
Switzerland
Türkiye
United Arab Emirates17
United States of America25
Viet Nam
Yugoslavia (former)2
Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, of 28 March 1947 .
The former Yugoslavia had accepted the Convention on 12 February 1960, with the following declaration:
"In joining the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization, the Government of the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia wishes to declare that it is not in agreement with a possible broadening of the scope of the activities of this Organization from the purely technical and nautical activities into the field of matters of an economic and commercial nature as stated in Article 1, sections under (b) and (c) of the Convention for the establishment of the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization. If such a broadening of the field of activities of the Organization were to take place the Government of the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia reserves the right to reconsider its position concerning the ensuing situation. "At the same time, the Government of the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia declares its readiness to fulfil all its obligations toward the Organization, as stated in the instrument of ratification."
See also note 1 under “Bosnia and Herzegovina", "Croatia", "former Yugoslavia", "Slovenia", "The Former Yugsoslav Republic of Macedonia" and "Yugoslavia" in the "Historical Information" section in the front matter of this volume.
The Convention was accepted on behalf of the Republic of China on 1 July 1958 (See, C.N.106.1958.TREATIES-5 of 15 July 1958). See note concerning signatures, ratifications, accessions, etc., on behalf of China (note 1 under China in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume.).
With reference to the above-mentioned acceptance, communications have been addressed to the Secretary-General by the Permanent Missions to the United Nations of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, on the one hand, and of China on the other hand.
In communications addressed to the Secretary-General with reference to the above-mentioned signature and/or ratification, the Permanent Missions to the United Nations of Czechoslovakia, Denmark, India, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Yugoslavia stated that, since their Governments did not recognize the Nationalist Chinese authorities as the Government of China, they could not regard the said signature or ratification as valid. The Permanent Missions of Czechoslovakia and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics further stated that the sole authorities entitled to act for China and the Chinese people in the United Nations and in international relations, and to sign, ratify, accede or denounce treaties, conventions and agreements on behalf of China, were the Government of the People's Republic of China and its duly appointed representatives.
In its instrument of acceptance, the Government of the People's Republic of China declared that the acceptance of and signature of the Convention on the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization and relatedConventions and regulations by the Chiang Kai-shek clique usurping the name of China are illegal and null and void.
Czechoslovakia had accepted the Convention on 1 October 1963. See also note 1 under “Czech Republic” and note 1 under “Slovakia” in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume.
On 3 December 2002, the Government of Denmark informed the Secretary-General of the following:
.".....Under the Danish Constitution and the Home Rule Act (Faroe Islands) the Faroe Islands is a part of the Danish Realm with a wide measure of home rule in legislative and administrative affairs. In accordance with these instruments the legal status of the Faroese Home Government has been changed with effect from January 1st 2002 by transferring legislative and administrative powers from the authorities of the Realm to the Faroese Home Government in a number of additional fields including matters related to safety at sea. This transfer does not affect the powers of the authorities of the Realm to act on behalf of the Realm in international affairs.
Article 72 of the IMO Convention provides that: "Members may make a declaration at any time that their participation in the Convention includes all or a group of or a single one of the Territories for whose international relations they are responsible,"
In conformity with this Article the Kingdom of Denmark has the honour to declare that application of the IMO Convention with respect to the Faroe Islands from the date of this notification is based on article 72 of the IMO Convention.
Article 8 of the IMO Convention provides that: "Any Territory or group of Territories to which the Convention has been made applicable under Article 72, by the Member having responsibility for its international relations or by the United Nations, may become an associate Member of the Organization by notification in writing given by such Member or by the United Nations as the case may be, to the Secretary-General of the United Nations."
The Faroe Islands Home Government has expressed its strong desire to become an associate Member of the IMO in the light of the new legislative and administrative powers transferred to the Home Government with respect to matters related to safety at sea and considering the importance to the Faroese economy of thefleet registered in the Faroese registry of ships and flying the Faroese flag. On this background the Kingdom of Denmark considers it appropriate that the Faroe Islands is associated with the IMO in the form of associate membership under article 8 of the IMO Convention.
In conformity with Article 8 of the IMO Convention the Kingdom of Denmark has the honour to notify that the Faroe Islands has become an associate Member of the IMO with effect from the date of this notification."
The application of the Federal Republic of Germany for membership in the Organization was approved on 5 January 1959, in accordance with article 8 of the Convention. See also note 5 in this chapter, and notes 1 and 2 under “Germany” in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume.
The German Democratic Republic had accepted the Convention on 25 September 1973. See also note 2 under “Germany” in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume.
By a depositary notification C.N.201.1950.TREATIES the Secretary-General has communicated that on 6 December 1950 the Government of Greece, in accordance with Article 57(b), has deposited the instrument of acceptance to the Convention on the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization. Subsequently, on 6 April 1956, the Secretary-General has issued a depositary notification C.N.35.1956.TREATIES notifying the withdrawal by the Government of Greece of its instrument of acceptance of the Convention on the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization.
In a communication received on 9 October 1965, the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia notified the Secretary-General of the withdrawal of the Republic of Indonesia from the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization. The notification of withdrawal contains the following statement:
"With reference to the provision of Article 59 which stipulates that the withdrawal from IMCO's membership will take effect twelve months from the date on which the notification of withdrawal is received by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Indonesia will observe her obligations and responsibilities accordingly. Nevertheless, the Indonesian Government has decided to discontinue its participation in the activities of the IMCO as of this date.
"In conclusion, I wish to add that, notwithstanding the withdrawal from IMCO, Indonesia will continue to work for the attainment of mutually beneficial principles of International maritime cooperation."
In a communication received on 29 September 1966, the Presidium Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia informed the Secretary-General that his government had decided to resume active participation in the Organization and requested that this communication be considered as superseding the above-mentioned notification of with drawal.
The applications of Kuwait, Mauritania and the Republic of Korea for membership in the Organization were approved on 5 July 1960, 13 April 1961 and 21 December 1961, respectively, in accordance with article 8 of the Convention.
See note 1 under "Montenegro" in the "Historical Information" section in the front matter of this volume.
Democratic Yemen had accepted the Convention on 2 June 1980 with the following declaration:
"The acceptance of the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen of the said Convention does not mean in any way recognition of Israel, or entering with it into relations governed by the Convention thereto acceded."
See also note 1 under “Yemen” in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume.
On 2 February 1990, the Secretary-General received from the Government of Portugal a declaration, in accordance with article 72 (a) of the Convention, to the effect that the said Convention is made applicable to Macau with effect from 2 February 1990 and that, in accordance with article 8 of the said Convention, Macau becomes and Associate Member of the International Maritime Organization as from the same date. The declaration also specifies the following:
"The present declaration is made in conformity with the agreement established by the Joint Liaison Group of the Republic of Portugal and the People's Republic of China in accordance with the Joint Declaration of the Governments of the Republic of Portugal and the People's Republic of China on the question of Macau, signed in Beijing on 13 April 1987, whereby the People's Republic of China will resume the exercise of sovereignty over Macau with effect from the 20th of December 1999 and that Portugal will continue to have international responsibility for Macau until the 19th of December 1999.".
In this regard to the said declaration, the Secretary-General received on that same date, a communication from the Government of China identical in essence, mutatis mutandis, as the one made in respect of Hong Kong.
On 15 March 1962, the Federation of Nigeria became a member of the Organization by depositing on that date the instrument of acceptance of the Convention.
In a communication received on 6 August 1964, the Government of the United Kingdom requested the Secretary-General, in his capacity as depositary of the Convention on the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization, "to take note that, as a result of the Agreement relating to Malaysia signed at London on July 9, 1963, and legislation enacted in accordance with that Agreement, Sarawak and North Borneo, together with the State of Singapore, federated with the existing States of the Federation of Malaya and the Federation is now called Malaysia. Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom are therefore no longer responsible for the international relations of Sarawak and North Borneo.".
In a subsequent communication received on 4 March 1965, the Government of the United Kingdom, in amplification of the information contained in the above-mentioned communication, drew the attention of the Secretary-General to the fact "that the Agreement relating to Malaysia which was signed in London on the 9th of July 1963–the date on which Sarawak and North Borneo, together with the State of Singapore, federated with the States of the Federation of Malaya–Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom ceased to be responsible for the international relations of Sarawak and North Borneo." It also requested the Secretary-General "to take note that Her Majesty's Government accordingly consider that the joint associate membership in the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization of Sarawak and North Borneo under article 9 of the Convention on the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization automatically lapsed on the 16th of September 1963."
On 25 August 1987, the Secretary-General received from the Permanent Representative of the People's Republic of China and from the Acting Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Chargé d'Affaires, respectively, the following communications both dated 25 August 1987:
"I am instructed by her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to refer to the Declaration made by the United Kingdom on 6 June 1967 concerning the application to Hong Kong of the Convention on the International Maritime Organisation, signed at Geneva on 6 March 1948. By virtue of that Declaration and in accordance with articles 72 (a) and 8 of the Convention, Hong Kong became an associate member of the Organisation with effect from 7 June1967.
I am also instructed to state that having regard to the Joint Declaration of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the People's Republic of China on the question of Hong Kong, signed in Beijing on 19 December 1984, the United Kingdom will restore Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China with effect from 1 July 1997 and that the United Kingdom will continue to have international responsibility for Hong Kong until that date."
(Signed) John Birch
Acting Permanent Representative
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Charge d'Affaires
I am instructed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, with reference to the communication which the United Kingdom Mission to the United Nations addressed to Your Excellency today, to notify Your Excellency of the declaration of the People's Republic of China as follows:
In accordance with the Joint Declaration of the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britaid Norn Ireland on the Question of Hong Kong signed in Beijing on 19 December 1984, the People's Republic of China will resume the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong with effect from 1 July 1997. Hong Kong, as an inseparable part of the territory of the People's Republic of China, will become a special administrative region with effect from that date. The People's Republic of China will have international responsibility for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
I am also instructed to declare that since China is a contracting State to the Convention on the Maritime Organization, signed in Geneva on 6 March 1948, and the Government of the People's Republic of China accepted the Convention on 1 March 1973, the said Convention will apply to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region with effect from 1 July 1997. Accordingly, the Government of the People's Republic of China notifies you that, with effect from 1 July 1997, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will continue to meet the essential requirements of the Convention for being an associate member of the Organization, and therefore may, using the name of "Hong Kong, China", continue to be an associate member of the Organisation.
I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to Your Excellency the assurances of my highest consideration.
(Signed) Li Luye
Permanent Representative of
the People's Republic of China
to the United Nations
In a communication received by the Secretary-General on 8 November 1976, the Government of Bahrain confirmed that the general reservation "is intended to constitute a general declaration of policy of the Government of the State of Bahrain and should not be interpreted as expanding or diminishing the scope of the Convention or its application to States parties to the Convention."
With regard to the said reservation, the Governrment of Israel, in communication received by the Secretary-General on 23 December 1976, stated the following:
"The instrument deposited by the Government of Bahrain contains a statement of political pronouncements, which are moreover, in flagrant contradiction to the principles, objects and purposes of the Organization. That pronouncement by the Government of Bahrain cannot in any way affect whatever obligations are binding upon Bahrain, under general international law or under particular treaties."
The Government of Israel will, insofar as concerns the substance of the matter, adopt towards the Government of Bahrain an attitude of complete reciprocity."
Identical communications, mutatis mutandis , were received from the Government of Israel on 25 July 1980, in respect of the declarations made by Democratic Yemen (see note 9 ) and the United Arab Emirates upon acceptance of the Convention.
On 8 July 2021, the Government of Bahrain notified the Secretary-General of its withdrawal of the following reservation made upon acceptance:
“The acceptance of the Convention on the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization by the State of Bahrain shall, however, in no way signify recognition of, or entry into any relations with Israel.”
In communications addressed to the Secretary-General on 14 September 1961, 30 November 1961 and 14 March 1962, respectively, the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Norway and Greece, referring to the declaration made by Cambodia, stated that they assumed that it was a declaration of policy and did not constitute a reservation; and that it had no legal effect with regard to the interpretation of the Convention. They further stated that they would welcome assurances from the Government of Cambodia that the declaration was to be understood in this sense.
In a communication addressed to the Secretary-General on 31 January 1962, the Government of Cambodia stated that ". . . the Royal Government agrees that the first part of the declaration which it made at the time of the acceptance of the Convention is of a political nature. It therefore has no legal effect regarding the interpretation of the Convention. The statements contained in the third paragraph of the declaration, on the other hand, constitute a reservation to the Convention by the Royal Government of Cambodia."
In a communication addressed to the Secretary-General on 3 July 1962, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland stated that ".. Her Majesty's Government do not share the view of the Cambodian Government that the third paragraph of the declaration constitutes a reservation, but they do not wish on that account, to raise formal objection to the terms of Cambodia's acceptance of the Convention."
In a communication addressed to the Secretary-General on 23 July 1962, the Government of France stated that ". . . it considers that, for reasons of principle as well as of fact, it cannot accept the terms of the declaration in question, the third paragraph of which is, moreover, described by the Permanent Representative of Cambodia as constituting a reservation."
In resolution 1452 (XIV) adopted on 7 December 1959, the General Assembly of the United Nations, noting the statement made on behalf of India at the 614th meeting of its Sixth Committee (Legal) explaining that the Indian declaration was a declaration of policy and that it did not constitute a reservation, expressed the hope "that, in the light of the above-mentioned statement of India an appropriate solution may be reached in the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization at an early date to regularize the position of India".
By a resolution adopted on 1 March 1960, the Council of the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization, taking note of the statement made on behalf of India referred to in the foregoing resolution and noting, therefore, that the declaration of India has no legal effect with regard to the interpretation of the Convention "considers India to be a member of the Organization".
In communications addressed to the Secretary-General on 14 September 1961, 30 November 1961 and 14 March 1962, respectively, the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Norway and Greece, referring to the declaration made by Indonesia, stated that they assumed that it was a declaration of policy and did not constitute a reservation; and that it had no legal effect with regard to the interpretation of the Convention. They further stated that they would welcome assurances from the Government of Indonesia that the declaration was to be understood in this sense.
In communications addressed to the Secretary-General on 30 October 1961, 12 January 1962 and 28 March 1962, the Government of Indonesia stated that the declaration in question :
". . . does not constitute a reservation but is an interpretation of article 1 (b) of the said Convention and should be understood as such.
"In view of the above fact, the Government of Indonesia cannot accept the assumption made by [the above-mentioned Governments] that this declaration has no legal effect with regard to the interpretation of the Convention."
In a communication addressed to the Secretary-General on 18 April 1962, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland stated that ". . . Her Majesty's Government do not wish to raise formal objection to the terms of Indonesia's acceptance, but they desire to place on record that they do not thereby concede that they will necessarily regard any measures of assistance and encouragement which the Government of Indonesia may give to its national shipping as consistent with the Convention."
In a communication addressed to the Secretary-General on 23 July 1962, the Government of France stated that ". . . it considers that, for reasons of principle as well as of fact, it cannot accept the terms of the declaration in question."
In a communication addressed to the Secretary-General on 5 September 1962, the Government of thed States of America stated the following:
"The Government of the United States will not raise objection to the terms of Indonesia's acceptance of the Convention on the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization. However, It does not thereby concede that it will necessarily regard every measure of assistance and encouragement which the Government of Indonesia may give to its national shipping as consistent with the Convention."
In a communication received by the Secretary-General on 28 November 1973, the Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations stated the following:
"The instrument of acceptance by the Government of Iraq of the above-mentioned Convention contains a statement of a political character in respect to Israel. In the view of the Government of Israel, this is not the proper place for making such political pronouncements, which are moreover, in flagrant contradiction to the principles, objects and purposes of the Organization. That statement, therefore, possesses no legal validity whatsoever.
"The Government of Israel utterly rejects that statement and will proceed on the assumption that it has no validity as to the rights and duties of any Member State to the said Organization.
"The declaration of the Government of Iraq cannot in any way affect Iraq's obligations under the Constitution of the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization or whatever other obligations are binding upon that State by virtue of general international law.
"The Government of Israel will, in so far as concerns the substance of the matter, adopt toward the Government of Iraq an attitude of complete reciprocity."
In a letter of 3 June 1971, the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia notified the Secretary-General as follows:
"The declaration by the Malaysian Government with regard to the above-mentioned Convention is a declaration of policy of the Government of Malaysia, and does not constitute a reservation by the Government of Malaysia to the Convention as stated in the instrument of acceptance."
Upon deposit of the instrument of acceptance, the Government of Sri Lanka declared that ". . . the declaration set forth in the instrument of acceptance does not constitute a reservation, but is an interpretation of article 1 (b) of the Convention and should be understood as such."
In a note verbale accompanying the instrument of acceptance, the Permanent Representative of the United States of America drew the attention of the Secretary-General to the fact that ... "Article 2 of the Convention provides that the functions of the Organization `shall be consultative and advisory'. Article 3 of the Convention indicates that the functions of the Organization are to make recommendations and to facilitate consultation and exchange of information. The history of the Convention and the records of the conference at which it was formulated indicate no intention to nullify or alter the domestic legislation of any contracting party relating to restrictive business practices or to alter or modify in any way the application of domestic statutes governing the prevention or regulation of business monopolies. It is considered therefore, that the statement as quoted above is merely a clarification of the intended meaning of the Convention and a safeguard against any possible misinterpretation, particularly as to the application of article 4."
See note 1 under “Netherlands” regarding Aruba/Netherlands Antilles in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume.
By a further notification received on 12 July 1951, notice was given that the participation Netherlands in this Convention, from 27 December 1949, no longer includes the territories under the jurisdiction of the Republic of Indonesia but includes Surinam, the Netherlands Antilles (formerly the Netherlands West Indies) and Netherlands New Guinea