The Centrality of Institutional Leadership: The International Maritime Organization's Role in Steering Global Maritime Governance
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64391/ijssat.v1i3.003Keywords:
digital shipping, International Maritime Organization (IMO), global ocean governance, institutional coordinationAbstract
The convergence of digitalization, automation, and artificial intelligence is reshaping global ocean governance. As the principal regulatory authority, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is adapting its role to address new technological challenges. This article analyzes the evolution of the IMO's functions and interactions with the international legal framework, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Through a normative analysis and case studies based on IMO policies, international jurisprudence, and state practice, this study reveals that the IMO is expanding its mandate by developing standards for digital shipping, regulating autonomous vessels, and addressing the application of artificial intelligence in safety and environmental protection. While the IMO's work complements UNCLOS in areas such as maritime safety and freedom of navigation, tensions persist on issues such as the legal status and liability of autonomous ships. This article argues that future ocean governance will depend on multilateral cooperation, institutional coordination, and adaptive rule-making, with the IMO playing a central role.
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Copyright (c) 2025 The Author(s). Published by the Colorado Social Science Research Academy, Denver, Colorado, USA.
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