Answer
For any international maritime convention or amendment adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to enter into force globally, it must meet specific dual criteria. These conditions ensure that a significant majority of the global maritime community accepts and is ready to enforce the regulations.
The EIF Criteria typically require:
Ratification by a minimum number of States: A specific count of individual sovereign nations must formally sign, accept, or ratify the treaty.
Minimum percentage of World Gross Tonnage: The ratifying nations must collectively represent a defined majority percentage of the world's merchant shipping fleet by gross tonnage.
Classic Examples:
MARPOL 73/78: Required ratification by 15 States representing at least 50% of the world's merchant shipping gross tonnage.
Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention: Required 30 States representing at least 35% of the world's gross tonnage (which was achieved in 2016, entering into force in 2017).