Abstract:
The major issue of international laws is the law enforcement itself. In parallel to it are the IMO instruments which are international agreements that lay out technical provisions on ships that contracting parties find difficult to comply with. Therefore, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as the organization initiating the IMO instruments, has set up the Audit Scheme in order to address the said issue. The study found that the Audit Scheme is a mechanism for contracting parties to define the status and findings of their implementation of the IMO instruments. Thailand, as a contracting party, has an obligation to participate in the Audit Scheme. In line with this, the International Maritime Organization will provide recommendations to Thailand for more effective implementation of the IMO instruments. By this mechanism, Thailand will be able to identify root causes of findings as well as take actions in order to amend the discrepancies found which will then result in the self-enforcement of the IMO instruments. Not only that, a positive effect on the safety of navigation as well as marine environmental protection of Thailand will also come about.