IMO number
The IMO number is a 7-digit number issued to each vessel before it is launched and remains with it throughout its lifetime and is therefore really the only way of 100% identifying a particular vessel .
The vast majority of vessels do have an IMO number but you may find some smaller vessels (Tugs and specialist vessels=below 100 GT), do not have an IMO number - these Smaller Vessels often have an 'Official' Number ''ON'' which tends to do the same job.
A little History & background about IMO numbers
The administration of the IMO numbers is under Lloyd's Register, Lloyd’s Register allocated its own standard numerical identifiers for merchant ships of 100 tons and over world-wide during the late 1960’s, initially in a 6-digit format. They appear in their present 7 digit format in Lloyd’s Register for 1969 and thereafter and were originally termed “LR numbers”.
The IMO number consists of three number groups, The first two digits often (but not always) indicates the age of the ship. The lower digits, the elder ship. For vessels build from 1960 until 1987, the two first digits will often be the year of class request or keel-laying for the ship. The next four digits is simply a number, while the seventh digit is made a data digit controlling that the first six digits were typed correctly.
These have been formally adopted by the International Maritime Organisation and function as “world official numbers” for ship identification and tracking purposes, hence the acronym LR/IMO. They are generally painted conspicuously on the hull of modern ships to which IMO regulations apply.
Requirement for the ship to Show IMO
The requirement for the ship's identification number to be clearly visible on the ship is a requirement of the ISPS (International Ship and Port Security) Code, which is part of SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea).Essentially, all merchant ships should now be displaying this number somewhere on board.
ISPS code is the full code, and scrolling to page 100 of will give the rule changes made to SOLAS requiring the permanent marking of the number.
Shipping databases
Some of free shipping databases to use that provide IMO number is as follow ,
- http://World Ship Register
- http://www.tokyo-mou.org
- http://www.equasis.org
Paid shipping databases to use that provide IMO number is as follow -
- SeaSearcher
- Sea-Web
This "What is IMO number " is what I have found out in the Shipspotting.com forum. If anyone know more about IMO numbers, it would be great to share here please. Thanks
