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A collection of books, articles, DVDs, magazines etc on: maritime safety, security and protection of the marine environment and more specifically ship design and equipment, stability and load lines, fishing vessels safety, containers and cargoes, bulk chemicals, fire protection, life-saving, search and rescue, standards of training and watchkeeping, carriage of dangerous goods, marine pollution, preparedness and response, navigation and communications, facilitation and technical co-operation.

Our publications are sales items and orders can be placed on line or by e-mailing publications-sales@imo.org. Most of our publications are available in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese and Russian.
To see what is available in other languages click here.
List of distributors in your country

You can ask your college/university/ to contact us and arrange a loan through their library. There are a number of depository libraries worldwide. Please contact jtang@imo.org We do not lend non-IMO publications.

Summaries of Convention, how they are developed and their current status can be found here.

Travaux Preparatoires (documents of the diplomatic conference) of legal conventions prior to 1998 are available in electronic form here

Travaux Preparatoires for MARPOL 1973 (documents of the diplomatic conference) are available in electronic form here

Where can I find information on shipping in my country?

Check our Directory of Links by country.

Where will I find the text of national legislation?

National legislation implementing IMO instruments is normally published in the national Official Journal. You can also try and contact a CMI member in your country Comite Maritime International

Where can I find information about shipping for my college work/ essay/dissertation?

Check our Page Ships and Shipping - Facts and Figures

I need statistics on maritime transport/pollution/piracy/casualties..

Check our statistical resources

Where is the Centre and what do I need to do to do my research there?

We are at no 4, Albert Embankment, on the third floor of the IMO Secretariat in London. View the map. Buses nearby : no 3, 407, 77

The Centre is open Monday to Friday 10:00-17.00 by appointment. It is normally closed to outside visitors during the Christmas week and official holidays.

Unless you are a Delegate, an IMO Representatives or an intern, please note that you need to make an appointment stating the exact purpose of your visit and contact MaritimeKnowledgeCentre@imo.org at least 3 working days prior to your visit. Students please note that we can only give you an appointment once an e-mail stating the purpose of your visit is received from your tutor/supervisor at least one week in advance. All visitors, please bring a valid ID with a photograph; you photo will be taken by our Security staff before we collect you at our Security Desk. Your pass is strictly for the MKC only and you need to let us know when you leave as we have to bring you back to the Security Desk.

You are advised to check the catalogue SeaLibrary to ensure that the MKC holds the information you need for your research.

I have been accepted for an internship at IMO and will be doing my research in the MKC. What facilities are there?

There are points for your laptop, Wifi, a photocopier/printer/ and communal computers. Contact us for our information sheet for interns.

Can you help me with a technical enquiry?

Unfortunately we are not qualified to answer technical enquiries and you need to send them directly to your national maritime administration or to the flag Administration. Links can be found in the Contacts Directory

Do you keep classification registers?

No . Check with Lloyd's Register : For a full explanation of classification see Infosheet no.35 and for the history of classification see Infosheet no.32. Details of other major Classification Societies can be found on Infosheet no.15.

I am looking for the details of a particular vessel. Can you help?

You need to contact Lloyd’s Register who can provide information on vessels that are currently in service by using the Lloyd’s Register of Ships and their online database Sea-Web.

Current editions are available to purchase through IHS Fairplay www.ihsfairplay.com.

Do you have passenger lists?
Details for researching Inward and Outward passenger lists can be found on Lloyd's Register's Infosheet no.29.

Can you tell me about ships’ voyages?
No. For information on voyages and sources to research these please see Lloyd's Register's Infosheet no.3.

Where can I find information on the offshore industry?
Again, thank you to our colleagues at Lloyd's Regiser who have compiled infosheet no. 52

Do you keep historical records?

No we have a collection of IMO documents since 1959 and our current database IMODOCS goes back to 1998. We have an archive collection of superseded edition of IMO publications.

Don't forget to try the national Maritime Museum in Greenwich and your national maritime museums.

Where will I find historical records about ships?
No. You need to contact Lloyd's Register. Check their Infosheet no.10.

Do you keep historical records about crew or captains or masters?

No but other libraries do. Lloyd's Register's Infosheet no.2 and Infosheet no.3 will help you to identify what is available

Do you have ships’ photographs and plans?

No we have some IMO photographs on Flickr. Lloyd’s Register have compiled Infosheet no.9 listing institutions and individuals which can provide photographs.

Are the organisation's archives (correspondence and exchanges with Member States, NGO's IGO's etc.. other than those in meetings documents available to the public?

No, these are not available to the public.