All conventions which were adopted under the auspices of the IMO could be divided into four main categories.
The first group of conventions consists of the conventions which promote safety at sea :
- International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended (SOLAS 1974)
- International Convention on Load Lines, 1966 (LOAD LINES 1966)
- Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972, as amended (COLREG)
- International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended (STCW (amended) 1978)
- International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel, 1995 (STCW-F)
- Torremolinos International Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels, 1977 (SFV 1977)
- Torremolinos Protocol of 1993 relating to the Torremolinos International Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels, 1977 (SFV PROT 1993)
- International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, 1979 (SAR 1979)
The second category of treaties embraces conventions relating to the field of combating and preventing marine pollution. Conventions in this category are:
- International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (MARPOL (amended) 73/78)
- International Convention relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Oil Pollution Casualties, 1969 (INTERVENTION 1969) as modified by the Protocol 1973
- International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation, 1990 (OPRC 1990)
- Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972, as amended (LC (amended) 1972)
- Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1996 (LC PROT 1996)
- Protocol on Preparedness, Response and Co-operation to Pollution Incidents by Hazardous and Noxious Substances 2000 (OPRC/HNS PROT 2000)
The regime concerning marine pollution has been significantly enriched by the third category of conventions, those concerning liability. These are:
- International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage,1969 (CLC 1969 ) as modified by the Protocol of 1992
- International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1971 as modified by the Protocols of 1976, 1992, 2000, 2003
- Convention relating to Civil Liability of Maritime Carriage of Nuclear Material,1971 (NUCLEAR 1971)
- International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, 2001 (BUNKERS Convention)
- Convention on Limitation and Compensation in Connection with Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea, 1996 (HNS Convention)
The fourth category includes conventions intended to encourage and facilitate maritime trade. In this context one should mention
- Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic, 1965 (FAL)
- International Convention on Tonnage Measurement, 1969 (TONNAGE Convention)
- Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation, 1988 (SUA) as amended by the Protocol of 2005
- Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Fixed Platforms located on the Continental Shelf (SUA PROT 1988)
- International Convention on Salvage, 1989 (SALVAGE 1989)
