NGO Consultative Status

NGO consultative status is the formal relationship the IMO grants to international non-governmental organizations, letting them attend and submit documents to IMO meetings as observers. The Council grants and reviews it against the Rules and Guidelines for NGO consultative status, which require a genuine maritime competence able to contribute to the Organization’s work. Holders include classification, industry, labor, and environmental bodies. Observers may contribute expertise but cannot vote, since only member states decide. The status differs from the observer status granted to intergovernmental organizations under agreements of cooperation.