Captain Zenon Sdougos, a long-serving and highly esteemed contributor to the work of the International Maritime Organization, has died at his home in London. He was 89.
Captain Sdougos began his long maritime career as a deck officer in the Greek merchant navy, before joining the Hellenic Coast Guard, where he achieved the rank of Captain. In 1961, he joined the IMO Secretariat to work in the Maritime Safety Division. In 1976 he retired from IMO, having risen to the post of Director of the division.
He then began a new career, as an advisor to the Union of Greek Shipowners, in which capacity he continued to make an outstanding contribution to the work of the Organization. Among many achievements, his important work in the area of navigational safety and the development of the GMDSS will be particularly remembered. IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos said "It was with great sadness that we learned of the death of Captain Sdougos. He was a man of integrity, who had a profound knowledge and understanding of shipping. He was fully committed to the causes of maritime safety and environmental protection and made a major contribution over many years of committed service. His passing will be mourned by all those who knew him."