The Department of Transport (DoT) has reported that South Africa is seeking to be again elected to the Council of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). South Africa has been a member of the IMO since its readmission to the United Nations (UN) system in 1995, and has previously served on the IMO Council. The IMO is the UN agency responsible for regulating shipping. Officially established in 1948, it actually started functioning in 1958. It is based in London, in the UK.