Constitution of the Maritime Safety Committee of the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization.

Abstract

Treaties — Interpretation of — Principles and rules of interpretation — Natural and ordinary meaning of words in their context — Use of travaux preparatoires to confirm plain and ordinary meaning Meaning of "the largest ship-owning nations" in Article 28 (a) of Convention for the Establishment of the Inter — Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization, 1948 — Criteria for election of Members of Maritime Safety Committee — Whether mandatory or discretionary criteria — Relevance of intention of Members to establish objective criteria for composition of CommitteeRelevance of other provisions in same Convention referring to "total tonnage" — Relevance of practice of the Organization in relation to these other provisions — Importance of international practice and maritime usage.

International organization — Specialized agencies of the United Nations — Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization — Constitution of Maritime Safety Committee — Interpretation of constitutional instrument — Article 28 (a) of Convention establishing Organization — Criteria laid down in Article 28 (a) for election by Assembly of Members of Maritime Safety Committee — Distinction between mandatory and discretionary criteria — Natural and ordinary meaning of words in their context — Use of travaux préparatoires to confirm plain and ordinary meaning — Meaning of “the largest ship-owning nations” — Relevance of intention of Members to establish objective test for composition of Maritime Safety Committee — Relevance of other provisions in same Convention referring to “total tonnage” — Relevance of practice of the Organization in relation to these other provisions — Importance of international practice and maritime usage.