Maritime Glossary
Source-cited definitions for shipping, engineering, navigation, and regulatory terminology. Confidence-scored and verified against primary IMO, IHO, and industry sources.
- IMDG CodeInternational Maritime Dangerous Goods Code
- The IMDG Code is the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, the internationally agreed rulebook for carrying dangerous goods in packaged form by sea. It classifies hazardous cargoes and sets rules for their packaging, marking, documentation, stowage and segregation.
- cargoregulationsafetyhigh confidence
- IMO GHG Strategy2023 IMO GHG Strategy · IMO decarbonisation strategy
- The IMO GHG Strategy is the International Maritime Organization's plan to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions from international shipping. The revised strategy sets the ambition of reaching net-zero emissions from shipping by around 2050, with checkpoints along the way.
- decarbonizationregulationenvironmenthigh confidence
- IMO NumberIMO Ship ID
- An IMO number is a unique seven-digit identifier permanently assigned to a ship's hull for its entire life. Unlike the name, flag or owner, which can change, the IMO number never changes, providing a reliable way to identify a specific vessel.
- regulationship-identityhigh confidence
- ISM CodeInternational Safety Management Code · SMS
- The ISM Code is the International Safety Management Code, which requires shipping companies to operate a documented Safety Management System. Mandatory under SOLAS, it makes safety and pollution prevention a managed, auditable process both ashore and aboard.
- safetyregulationmanagementhigh confidence
- ISPS CodeInternational Ship and Port Facility Security Code
- The ISPS Code is the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code, a mandatory security regime introduced after 2001. It requires ships and port facilities to assess security risks and operate to a plan under three escalating security levels.
- securityregulationhigh confidence
- Ice Classpolar class · ice strengthening · winterization
- Ice class is a notation given by a classification society to a ship that has been strengthened and equipped to navigate in ice. Higher ice classes indicate the ability to operate in thicker ice or more severe conditions, up to dedicated polar classes.
- vessel-typesnavigationregulationhigh confidence
- International Association of Classification SocietiesIACS
- IACS is the International Association of Classification Societies, the body that brings together the world's leading classification societies. It coordinates common technical standards, known as unified requirements, and is the technical adviser recognised by the IMO.
- regulationorganizationssafetyhigh confidence
- International Maritime OrganizationIMO
- The IMO, or International Maritime Organization, is the United Nations specialised agency responsible for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of pollution from ships. Based in London, it develops the conventions that govern world shipping.
- organizationsregulationhigh confidence