Maritime Legal Glossary: I

I/A: abbreviation for "independent action." the right of a conference member to publish a rate of tariff rule that departs from the agreement's common rate or rule.

IIO: international labor organization: based in geneva, it is one of the oldest components of the un system of specialized agencies and has been involved over the years in appraising and seeking to improve and regulate conditions for seafarers. In its unusual tripartite way, involving official representatives of government, employer and employee interests, its joint maritime commission have had in hand moves on the employment of foreign seafarers to urge the application of minimum labor standards, on crew accommodation, accident prevention, medical examination and medical care, food and catering and officer's competency. 

IMDG: international maritime dangerous goods code. Regulations published by imo for transporting hazardous materials internationally.

IMO: international maritime organization: formerly known as the inter-governmental maritime consultative organization (imco), was established in 1958 through the united nations to coordinate international maritime safety and related practices.

Implied warranty: a guarantee made during a sale which is imposed by law. Even though the seller may not make any explicit promises, the buyer still gets some protection.

Implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose: a warranty that exists when a seller should know that a buyer is relying on the seller's expertise. 

Implied warranty of habitability: law that exists in most states which governs residential rentals and asserts that regardless of what a lease says, the landlord must provide premises that are safe and liveable (habitable) at some basic level. Problems with essential building services and cleanliness are often breaches of the implied warranty and the landlord will be required to correct them. 

Implied warranty of merchantability: a warranty that guarantees that goods are reasonably fit for their ordinary purpose. 

Independent action: setting rate within a conference tariff that is different from the rate(s) for the same items established by other conference members.

Inert gas system: a system of preventing any explosion in the cargo tanks of a tanker by replacing the cargo, as it is pumped out, by an inert gas, often the exhaust of the ship's engine. Gas-freeing must be carried out subsequently if worker have to enter the empty tanks.

Inflammable liquids: liquids liable to spontaneous combustion which give off inflammable vapors at or below 80 degrees f. For example, ether, ethyl, benzine, gasoline, paints, enamels, carbon disulfide, etc.

Inland carrier: a transportation line that hauls export of import traffic between ports and inland points.

Inland waters: term referring to lakes, streams, rivers, canals, waterways, inlets, bays and the like.

Inmarsat: international maritime satellite system.

Impairment: when a person's faculties are diminished so that his or her ability to see, hear, walk, talk and judge distances is below the normal level as set by the state. Typically, impairment is caused by drug or alcohol use, but can also be caused by mental illness. Even if a person's alcohol level is lower than the legal intoxication level, he can still be convicted if the state can show his abilities were impaired. 

Integrated tug barge: a large barge of about 600 feet and 22,000 tons cargo capacity, integrated from the rear on to the bow of a tug purposely constructed to push the barge.

Intercoastal: domestic shipping routes serving more than one coast. Water service between two coasts; in the u.s., this usually refers to water service between the atlantic and pacific or gulf coasts.

Interlocutory order: temporary order issued during the course of litigation. Typically cannot be appealed because it is not final.

Intermodalism: the concept of transportation as a door-to-door service rather than port-to-port. Thus efficiency is enhanced by having a single carrier coordinating the movement and documentation among different modes of transportation.

International load line certificate: a certificate which gives details of a ship's freeboards and states that the ship has been surveyed and the appropriate load lines marked on her sides. A classification society or the coast guard issues this certificate.

International oil pollution compensation fund: an inter-governmental agency designed to pay compensation for oil pollution damage, exceeding the shipowner?s liability. It was created by an imo convention in 1971 and started its operations in october 1978. Contributions come mainly from the oil companies of member states. 

International tonnage certificate: a certificate issued to a shipowner by a government department in the case of a ship whose gross and net tonnages have been determined in accordance with the international convention of tonnage measurement of ships. The certificate states the gross and net tonnages together with details of the spaces attributed to each.

International waterways: consist of international straits, inland and inter-ocean canals and rivers where they separate the territories of two or more nations. Provided no treaty is enforced both merchant ships and warships have the right of free and unrestricted navigation through these waterways.

Interrogatories: part of the pre-trial discovery (fact-finding) process in which a witness provides written answers to written questions under oath. The answers often can be used as evidence in the trial. 

Intertanko: an association of independent tanker owners whose aims are to represent the views of its members internationally. 

Intracoastal: domestic shipping routes along a single coast.

Ism code: the international maritime organization assembly adopted the international safety management code (ism code) in 1993. On july 1, 1998, the ism code became mandatory for passenger vessels, passenger high-speed craft, oil tankers, chemical tankers, bulk carriers, and cargo high-speed craft of 500 gross tons or more. On july 1, 2002, the ism code became applicable to other cargo ships and to self-propelled mobile offshore drilling units of 500 gross tons or more. (ism code chapter ix of solas). 

Isps code: the international ship and port facility code adopted by an imo diplomatic conference in december 2002. Measure is designed to strengthen maritime security. (isps code: chapter xi:2 of solas).