ofEastern Europe andAsia7.9percent.101Thedivision ofsea-borne tradeis underactivediscussion inthecontext of~heUnitedNations Convention onaCode ofConduct forLinerConferences whichentered intoforceon6OCtober 1983and whichmaybeexpected tobaveconsiderable effect onfuturedistribution of cargoes. Animpression ofthecomparative amounts ofsea-borne trademaybegained fromthefollowing: Percentage tonnage of worldfleet Tankers 44.1 Bulkcarriers 24.7 General cargo 16.5 Combined bulk/tankers 7.1 Container ships 2.1 Passenger/ferries 0.4 Vehicle carriers 0.5 Bargecarriers 0.1 Others 1.2 Source: UnitedNations Conference onTradeandDevelopment "Review of Maritime Transport, 1983"(TD/B/C.4/266l, p.11. /...A/40/535 English Page18 Figure. Sharesofsea-borne tradein1982 (shownasapercentage ofinternational sea-borne trade) CRUDEOIL exports imports OILPRODUCTS e:llports imports DRYCARGO· exports fmports~ i"'"''J.......... ~.'. ~;;::;;:;;:;:;;:::;:::;;:;;;;:=Y==':~::'~':":':' . -"----~-':::;=:::::=:;:::[] -ra'·-........__---J.••••••• I(EY: developed marketeconomy countriesdeveloping countriessocialist countries ofEastern Europe andAsh Source: Conference onDerived from"Review ofmaritime transport, TradeandDevelopment (TD/B/C.4/266l, table1983",UnitedNations 3. /..,A/40/535 English Page19 48.Animportant roleinthefieldofgovernmental co-operation concerning international sea-borne tradeisplayed bytheInternational Maritime Organization (IMe). IMOhastwomajorobjectives. Thefirstistheadoption andapplication, through international co-operation, ofthehighest practicable standards for ensuring maritime safety, efficiency ofnavigation andothershipping operations andtheprevention ofmaritime pollution fromshipsandfromdumping and,thereby, alsoensuring thepromotion oftheavailability ofefficient andreliable shipping services forthecommerce oftheworld. Thesecondobjective ofIMOasa specialized agencyoftheUnitedNations istopromote programmes oftechnical co-operation withthedeveloping worldwithaviewtoproviding assistance inthe endeavours ofdeveloping countries tobuilduptheirtechnical maritime capability aswellasadequate andefficient national mercbant marines andports. 49.IMOhaspromoted theadoption ofover30international conventions andtreaty instruments, 27ofwhicharecurrently viableinternationally. IMOhasalso adopted alargenumberofcodesandrecommendations concerning maritime safety and theprevention ofpollution. Inaddition, theorganization devotes aconsiderable partofitsefforts tohelping thedeveloping countries bymeansofanexpanding technical assistance programme. 5.Pollution 50.Mounting concern hasbeenexpressed inrecentyearsattheriseinpollution intheworld's oceans andassociated seas.TheConvention ontheLawoftheSea (art.1,para.1(4))defines pollution ofthemarine environment as: ft•••theintroduction byman,directly orindirectly, ofsubstances orenergy intothemarine enVironment, inclUding estuaries, whichresults orislikely toresult insuchdeleterious effects asharmtolivingresources andmarine life,hazards tohumanhealth, hindrance tomarineactivities, including fishing andotherlegitimate usesofthesea,impairment ofquality foruseof seawaterandreduction ofamenities". 51.Although muchoftheopenoceans remainasyetnotseriously threatened, this isnotthecaseclosertoshore. Themajorsources ofmarinepollution, accounting forsome80percent,areland-based activities. Chemicals entertheseafrom coastal industries andviarivers, e.g.insecticides andfertilizers from agricultural run-off; orbyatmospheric depositl orbydumping atSeaofchemical wastes. Heavymetalsarecarried downrivers fromminingoperations andindustrial processes. Sewageisdischarged intotheseaseitherdirectly fromsewagesystems ordumped frombarges. Oilandotherpetroleum products findtheirwaytotheseas asaresultofaccidental spillage, industrial waste, urbanrun-off ordeliberate tank-cleaning operations byships. Radioactive pollution occurs fromindustrial
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing various aspects of international trade, shipping, and the environment. It provides statistics on sea-borne trade, the role of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and the impact of pollution on the world's oceans.

**Category**
Transport and communication, Natural resources and environment