RESOLUTION A.
600(15) adopted on 19 November 1987
IMO SHIP IDENTIFICATION NUMBER SCHEME
RESOLUTION A.600(15) adopted on 19 November 1987
IMO SHIP IDENTIFICATION NUMBER SCHEME
INTERNATIONAL MARITI ME
A 15/Res.600
ORGANIZATION 4 January 1988
Original: ENGLISH
ASSEMBLY - 15th session
Agenda item 12
IMO
RESOLUTION A.600(15)
adopted on 19 November 1987
IMO SHIP IDENTIFICATION NUMBER SCHEME
THE ASSEMBLY,
RECALLING Article 15(j) of the Convention on the International Maritime
Organization concerning the functions of the Assembly in relation to
regulations and guidelines concerning maritime safety and the prevention and
control of marine polluti~n from ships,
BELIEVING that the enhancement of maritime safety and pollution
prevention and the prevention of maritime fraud could be facilitated if a
permanent identification number were assigned to a ship which would remain
unchanged upon transfer of its flag and would be inserted on ships'
certificates,
HAVING CONSIDERED the recommendation made by the Maritime Safety
Committee at its fifty-fourth session,
1. ADOPTS the IMO Ship Identification Number Scheme, for implementation on a
voluntary basis, as set out in the Annex to the present resolution;
2. INVITES Governments concerned to implement the scheme as far as is
practicable, and to inform IMO of measures taken in this respect;
3. REQUESTS the Maritime Safety Committee to keep the scheme under review
for further improvement as may be necessary.
For reasons of economy, this document is printed in a limited number. Delegates
are kindly asked to bring their copies to meetings and not to request additional copies.
RESOLUTION A.600(15) adopted on 19 November 1987
IMO SHIP IDENTIFICATION NUMBER SCHEME
A 15/Res.600 - 2 -
ANNEX
IMO SHIP IDENTIFICATION NUMBER SCHEME
INTRODUCTION
1 The purpose of the scheme is to enhance maritime safety and pollution
prevention and to facilitate the prevention of maritime fraud. It is not
intended to prejudice matters of liability, civil law or other commercial
considerations in the operation of a ship. The scheme may be applied by
Administrations on a voluntary basis for new and existing ships, under their
flag, engaged in international voyages. Administrations may also wish to
~ .
assign the IMO numbers to ships engaged solely on domestic voyages and to
insert the number in the national certificates.
APPLICATION
2 The scheme applies to seagoing ships of 100 gross tonnage and above, with
the exception of the following:
vessels solely engaged in fishing;
ships without mechanical means of propulsion;
pleasure yachts;
ships engaged on special service*;
hopper barges;
hydrofoils, hovercraft;
floating docks and structures classified 1n a similar manner;
ships of war and troop ships; and
wooden ships in general.
* For example, lightships, floating radio stations, search and rescue
vessels.
RESOLUTION A.600(15) adopted on 19 November 1987
IMO SHIP IDENTIFICATION NUMBER SCHEME
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ASSIGNMENT OF IMO NUMBER
3 The IMO number is a Lloyd's Register (LR) number, allocated at the time
of build or when a ship is first included in the register, with the prefix IMO
(e.g. IMO 8712345). Administrations which have decided to implement the
scheme are invited to assign all appropriate ships flying their flags, or
cause them to be assigned, the IMO numbers and to insert them on ships'
certificates.
4 For new ships, the assignment of the IMO number should be made when the
ship is registered. For existing ships, the assignment of the IMO number
should be made at an early convenient date, such as when the renewal survey is
completed or new certificates are issued.
5 Administrations implementing the scheme are invited to inform the
Organization accordingly, for circulation to other Governments.
6 Official publications and other information from LR and Lloyd's Maritime
Information Services (LMIS) are sources for referencing the identification
number. If the particulars of a ship do not correspond to those shown in the
Register of Ships and its supplement because, for example, the ship had
changed its name, or the port State control officer had doubts as to whether
the numbers given on the certificates were genuine, further clarification may
be sought from Lloyd's Register, the IMO Secretariat or the flag State.
CERTIFICATES ON WHICH THE IMO NUMBER IS TO BE INSERTED
7 The IMO number should be inserted on a ship's Certificate of Registry
which includes the particulars identifying the ship, and on all certificates
issued under IMO Conventions when and where appropriate. It is recommended
that the IMO number also be inserted in other certificates, such as
classification certificates, Suez and Panama tonnage certificates, when and
where appropriate. The IMO number should preferably be included in the box
headed "Distinctive number or letters" in addition to the call sign.
RESOLUTION A.600(15) adopted on 19 November 1987
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HOW TO OBTAIN THE IMO NUMBER
8 The following information indicates how IMO numbers can be obtained for
both new and existing ships.
New ships (on order and under construction)
9 The IMO number can be obtained by one of the following methods:
.1 Inquiries addressed to the Maritime Information Publishing Group of
LR, by telex or facsimile*. In making such inquiry the following
particulars, if possible, should be presented:
Shipyard and yard number or hull number
Ship name (if known)
GT/DWT
Keel-laid date
Owner, operator/manager and flag
I..
Basic ship-type**
Name and address of inquirer.
Based on the above information, LR will provide the necessary IMO
number free of charge. If there are no data in the LR new
construction file on the ship concerning which the inquiry 1s made,
a new record on that ship will be created and the LR number will be
assigned.
* Telex 888379 Telefax (Fax) No. 01-4884796(GpIII)
** Basic ship-types used by LR include:
Passenger Ferry General cargo
Specialized cargo Cellular container Ro-ro cargo
Bulk Specialized bulk Ore carrier
Gas tanker Gas carrier Tanker
Specialized tanker Tug Factory
Dredger Sand carrier ORSV/Supply
or any combination of these types.
I
RESOLUTION A.600(15) adopted on 19 November 1987
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.2 On-line access to the new construction file through SEADATA (IMO has
access to this system) .
•3 Application through LMIS which will provide a service of regular
listings of the order book with selected data items, produced for a
client's specification.
Existing ships
10 The following methods are available for obtaining the IMO number:
.1 The Register of Ships and the 11 cumulative monthly supplements to
it published by Lloyd's Register. It is published in 3 volumes and
lists details of over 76,000 merchant ships •
•2 The weekly list of alterations to the Register of Ships
(non-cumulative) produced by Lloyd's Register .
.3 On-line access to the Lloyd's Register Ship Particulars File through
the SEADATA system (IMO has access to this system).
11 For existing ships, LR is prepared to answer ad hoc requests free of
charge up to a reasonable point of acceptability.
12 Any information on charges for services mentioned in paragraphs 9 and 10
may be obtained from Lloyd's Register of Shipping.
Inquiry to the IMO Secretariat
13 The IMO number may be obtained free of charge from the IMO Secretariat*
which has access to the SEADATA system. In making such an inquiry to the IMO
Secretariat, information on particulars of the ship (as in paragraph 9.1)
should be provided in writing.
* Telex 23588 Telefax (Fax) No. 5873210
W/7163E
RESOLUTION A.600(15) adopted on 19 November 1987
IMO SHIP IDENTIFICATION NUMBER SCHEME
