IMO ship identification number

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) number is a unique reference for ships and for registered ship owners and management companies. IMO numbers were introduced under the SOLAS Convention to improve maritime safety and security and to reduce maritime fraud. For ships, the IMO number remains linked to the hull for its lifetime, regardless of a change in name, flag, or owner.

The ship number consists of the three letters "IMO" followed by a unique seven-digit number assigned to sea-going merchant ships under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).

In 1987 the IMO adopted Resolution A.600(15), "aimed at enhancing maritime safety, and pollution prevention and to facilitate the prevention of maritime fraud" by assigning to each ship a permanent identification number which would continue despite any subsequent change in the vessel's name, ownership or flag.

When made mandatory, through SOLAS regulation XI/3 adopted in 1994 and which came into force on 1 January 1996, it was applied to cargo vessels that are at least 300 gross tons (gt) and passenger vessels of at least 100 gt.

In the SOLAS Convention "cargo ships" means "ships which are not passenger ships". The IMO scheme does not however apply to:

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 as well as internally and on the ship's certificates. Passenger ships should also carry the marking on a horizontal surface visible from the air.

When introduced, the IMO adopted the existing unique ship numbers applied to ships listed by Lloyd's Register since 1963. IMO ship identification numbers are assigned by IHS Fairplay (previously Lloyd's Register-Fairplay).

For new vessels the IMO number is assigned to a hull during construction, generally upon keel laying. Many vessels which fall outside the mandatory requirements of SOLAS have numbers allocated by Lloyd's Register or IHS Fairplay in the same numerical series, including fishing vessels and commercial yachts.

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