The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has officially completed its first audit cycle under the IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS). Since becoming mandatory in 2016, the scheme has evaluated 168 Member States—representing 94% of IMO membership—on how effectively they implement and enforce international maritime regulations.
This accomplishment represents one of the most comprehensive collective assessments of global maritime governance ever undertaken, reinforcing efforts to make shipping safer, more secure, and more environmentally sustainable worldwide.
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94% Participation Rate: 168 Member States successfully audited, demonstrating strong, sustained global commitment to international maritime standards.
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Targeted Technical Cooperation: Audit insights will directly inform the IMO’s Capacity-Development Strategy (Resolution A.1205(34)) to deliver needs-based support where gaps are identified.
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Next Audit Cycle Launching in 2027: The second cycle kicks off in July 2027 featuring a new continuous, data-driven monitoring mechanism.
The completion of the first cycle provides the IMO with a vital body of evidence. By analyzing audit findings, Corrective Action Plans (CAPs), and Consolidated Audit Summary Reports (CASRs), the Organization can identify recurring global compliance challenges and their root causes.
Rather than serving purely as an evaluative exercise, IMSAS outcomes directly feed into the IMO’s thematic technical cooperation framework. This allows the IMO to deliver tailored technical assistance, helping Member States build national capacity, close regulatory gaps, and effectively enforce maritime laws. “The completion of the first audit cycle highlights the strong and sustained commitment of Member States to ensuring the effective and consistent implementation of applicable IMO instruments globally.”
Building on the successes and lessons of the inaugural cycle, the second audit cycle will officially commence in July 2027 under the updated Framework and Procedures for IMSAS (Resolution A.1211(34)).
The modernized framework introduces the IMSAS Continuous Monitoring Mechanism (ICMM). This upgraded approach will be:
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Risk-based and data-driven: Prioritizing audits based on dynamic risk assessments.
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Transparent: Facilitating ongoing oversight rather than standard periodic reviews.
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Integrated: Embedding audit outcomes directly into future capacity-building programs.
The success of the inaugural cycle relied heavily on the expertise of hundreds of government-nominated auditors. To maintain this momentum, the IMO encourages Member States to continue nominating qualified auditors in accordance with Circular Letter No. 5105, with a strong emphasis on increasing the representation of women and young professionals in global maritime governance.
