The Cook Islands have become the latest Member of IMO, which brings the number of IMO Member States stands at 168, with a further three Associate Members.
Since the Cook Islands is a self governing territory in association with New Zealand and is not a Member State of the United Nations, its application to join IMO required the approval of two-thirds (112) of the current IMO membership. The Cook Islands applied to join IMO in 1999 and the 112th letter of acceptance was received by the IMO Secretariat on 15 July 2008.
Since the Cook Islands is a self governing territory in association with New Zealand and is not a Member State of the United Nations, its application to join IMO required the approval of two-thirds (112) of the current IMO membership. The Cook Islands applied to join IMO in 1999 and the 112th letter of acceptance was received by the IMO Secretariat on 15 July 2008.