IMO ship identification number
Encyclopedia
The IMO ship identification number is made of the three letters "IMO" followed by the seven-digit number assigned to all ships by IHS
Fairplay when constructed. This is a unique seven digit number that is assigned to propelled, sea-going merchant ships of 100 GT
and above. It serves to identify ships and is not changed when the ship's owner, country of registry or name changes.
This number is assigned to the total portion of the hull enclosing the machinery space and is the determining factor should additional sections be added.
The IMO number is never reassigned to another vessel and is shown on the ship’s certificates.
, is the originating source for the IMO Ship Number and is the sole authority with responsibility for assigning and validating these numbers on behalf of the IMO.
The integrity of an IMO number can be verified by its check digit
, which is the rightmost digit. This is done by multiplying each of the leftmost six digits by a factor corresponding to their position from right to left, and adding those products together. The rightmost digit of this sum is the check digit. For example, for IMO 7654329: 7×7 + 6×6 + 5×5 + 4×4 + 3×3 + 2×2 = 139.
The implementation of the scheme became mandatory for all ships as of 1 January 1996.
In December 2002, the Diplomatic Conference on Maritime Security adopted a number of measures aimed at enhancing security of ships and port facilities. This included a modification to SOLAS Regulation XI-1/3 to require ships' identification numbers to be permanently marked in a visible place either on the ship's hull or superstructure. Passenger ships should carry the marking on a horizontal surface visible from the air. Ships should also be marked with their ID numbers internally.
Regulation 3-1 states that "every Company and registered owner shall be provided with an identification number which conforms to the IMO Unique Company and Registered Owner Identification Number Scheme adopted by the Organization." It refers to resolution MSC.160(78) entitled "Adoption of the IMO Unique Company and Registered Owner Identification Number Scheme". Other amendments add the IMO unique company and registered identification number to relevant certificates and documents in the International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention (the ISM Code) and International ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.
The IMO unique company and registered owner identification number is a number, allocated at the time of issuance of a document listed in paragraph 6, with the prefix IMO (e.g. IMO 8712345). Administrations which have decided to implement the scheme are invited to assign all appropriate companies and registered owners managing ships entitled to fly their flags, or cause them to be assigned, the IMO unique company and registered owner identification number and to insert them on ships' certificates.
For new companies and registered owners, the assignment of the IMO unique company and registered owner identification number should be made when the company's ship is entitled to fly its flag. For existing companies and registered owners, the assignment of the IMO unique company and registered owner identification number should be made at an early convenient date, such as when the certificates listed in this resolution are issued or renewed.
Administrations implementing the scheme are invited to inform the Organization accordingly, for circulation to other Administrations.
IHS Inc.
IHS Inc. is a publicly traded business information services company based in Douglas County, Colorado, United States.IHS serves international clients in five major areas: energy, product lifecycle, environment, security and TMT . IHS provides industry data, technical documents, custom software...
Fairplay when constructed. This is a unique seven digit number that is assigned to propelled, sea-going merchant ships of 100 GT
Gross tonnage
Gross tonnage is a unitless index related to a ship's overall internal volume. Gross tonnage is different from gross register tonnage...
and above. It serves to identify ships and is not changed when the ship's owner, country of registry or name changes.
Assignment
The IMO number is assigned to a hull upon keel laying with the exception of the following:- Vessels solely engaged in fishing
- Ships without mechanical means of propulsion
- Pleasure yachts
- Ships engaged on special service (e.g. lightships, SAR vessels)
- Hopper bargeHopper bargeHopper barge is a kind of non-mechanical ship or vessel that cannot move around by itself, unlike some other types of barges. Designed to carry materials, like rocks, sand, soil and rubbish, for dumping into the ocean, a river or lake for land reclamation....
s - Hydrofoils, air cushion vehiclesHovercraftA hovercraft is a craft capable of traveling over surfaces while supported by a cushion of slow moving, high-pressure air which is ejected against the surface below and contained within a "skirt." Although supported by air, a hovercraft is not considered an aircraft.Hovercraft are used throughout...
- Floating docks and structures classified in a similar manner
- Ships of war and troopships
- Wooden ships
This number is assigned to the total portion of the hull enclosing the machinery space and is the determining factor should additional sections be added.
The IMO number is never reassigned to another vessel and is shown on the ship’s certificates.
Definition
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) number consists of the letters "IMO" followed by a unique, seven-digit number: the pattern is "NNNNNNN", where N is a single-digit number, e.g., "1234567". IHS Fairplay, previously Lloyd's Register - FairplayLloyd's Register
The Lloyd's Register Group is a maritime classification society and independent risk management organisation providing risk assessment and mitigation services and management systems certification. Historically, as Lloyd's Register of Shipping, it was a specifically maritime organisation...
, is the originating source for the IMO Ship Number and is the sole authority with responsibility for assigning and validating these numbers on behalf of the IMO.
The integrity of an IMO number can be verified by its check digit
Check digit
A check digit is a form of redundancy check used for error detection, the decimal equivalent of a binary checksum. It consists of a single digit computed from the other digits in the message....
, which is the rightmost digit. This is done by multiplying each of the leftmost six digits by a factor corresponding to their position from right to left, and adding those products together. The rightmost digit of this sum is the check digit. For example, for IMO 7654329: 7×7 + 6×6 + 5×5 + 4×4 + 3×3 + 2×2 = 139.
History
The IMO ship identification number scheme was introduced in 1987 through adoption of resolution A.600(15), as a measure aimed at enhancing "maritime safety, and pollution prevention and to facilitate the prevention of maritime fraud". It aimed at assigning a permanent number to each ship for identification purposes. That number would remain unchanged upon transfer of the ship to other flag(s) and would be inserted in the ship's certificates. When made mandatory, through SOLAS regulation XI/3 (adopted in 1994), specific criteria of passenger ships of 100 gross tonnage and upwards and all cargo ships of 300 gross tonnage and upwards were agreed.The implementation of the scheme became mandatory for all ships as of 1 January 1996.
In December 2002, the Diplomatic Conference on Maritime Security adopted a number of measures aimed at enhancing security of ships and port facilities. This included a modification to SOLAS Regulation XI-1/3 to require ships' identification numbers to be permanently marked in a visible place either on the ship's hull or superstructure. Passenger ships should carry the marking on a horizontal surface visible from the air. Ships should also be marked with their ID numbers internally.
Company and Registered Owner Identification Number
In May 2005, IMO adopted a new SOLAS regulation XI-1/3-1 Company and registered owner identification number and amendments to regulation XI-1/5 on the mandatory company and registered owner identification number, with entry into force expected to be on 1 January 2009.Regulation 3-1 states that "every Company and registered owner shall be provided with an identification number which conforms to the IMO Unique Company and Registered Owner Identification Number Scheme adopted by the Organization." It refers to resolution MSC.160(78) entitled "Adoption of the IMO Unique Company and Registered Owner Identification Number Scheme". Other amendments add the IMO unique company and registered identification number to relevant certificates and documents in the International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention (the ISM Code) and International ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.
The IMO unique company and registered owner identification number is a number, allocated at the time of issuance of a document listed in paragraph 6, with the prefix IMO (e.g. IMO 8712345). Administrations which have decided to implement the scheme are invited to assign all appropriate companies and registered owners managing ships entitled to fly their flags, or cause them to be assigned, the IMO unique company and registered owner identification number and to insert them on ships' certificates.
For new companies and registered owners, the assignment of the IMO unique company and registered owner identification number should be made when the company's ship is entitled to fly its flag. For existing companies and registered owners, the assignment of the IMO unique company and registered owner identification number should be made at an early convenient date, such as when the certificates listed in this resolution are issued or renewed.
Administrations implementing the scheme are invited to inform the Organization accordingly, for circulation to other Administrations.
See also
- International Convention for the Safety of Life at SeaInternational Convention for the Safety of Life at SeaThe International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea is an international maritime safety treaty. The SOLAS Convention in its successive forms is generally regarded as the most important of all international treaties concerning the safety of merchant ships.- History :The first version of the...
- Images of more than 5500 ships (status end October 2011) by IMO number in Commons