IMO Secretary-General Sets Fresh Agenda for Maritime

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez has shared the Organization’s plans and focus areas for the next four years.

Speaking at a press conference at IMO Headquarters in London, Dominguez outlined four strategic priorities:

• IMO’s work to regulate international shipping;

• its support to Member States – particularly Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries;

• enhancing public awareness and image; and

• relations with people and stakeholders.  

He said: “As a global industry that is responsible for transporting over 80% of trade around the world, shipping is indispensable. One thing I am very focused on is to make this Organization a more diverse, inclusive and transparent institution.”

The Secretary-General touched on various challenges and opportunities for the maritime sector. Highlighting the ongoing attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea, he condemned the attacks and underscored the paramount importance of protecting seafarers’ lives. He continued to call for the de-escalation of tensions and the freedom of navigation of ships in the area.  

Trade volume going through the Suez Canal has fallen by 42% over the last two months, according to estimates by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).  

The Secretary-General underscored the resilience of shipping in the face of global challenges and confirmed that IMO is actively dialoguing with countries, industry partners and the international community to find solutions.

GHG emissions

The Secretary-General provided an update on IMO work towards decarbonizing shipping by or around 2050. This makes it the first UN agency and first sector to define a global strategy to cut greenhouse gas emissions, including mandatory measures to deliver on targets.

A timeline has been set, following IMO processes:  

• March 2024 – Advance discussions of ‘mid-term measures’ to support emissions reduction in the medium term. These measures include a global marine fuel standard and pricing mechanism. An interim report of the impact assessment that these measures will have on countries will be considered by the Marine Environment Protection Committee at its 81st session (MEPC 81).  

• October 2024 – Finalization of impact assessment (MEPC 82)  

• Spring 2025 – Approval of measures (MEPC 83)  

• Autumn 2025 – Adoption of measures (six months after MEPC 83).

Supporting transparency, diversity and inclusion

The Secretary-General stressed his commitment to encouraging a culture transparency, diversity and inclusion in the work of the IMO.

In December 2023, the Organization trialed the livestreaming of the most recent meeting of the Assembly – its highest decision-making body which includes all 175 Member States. Meetings and sessions of the Committees and Sub-Committees are also open to media.

Since taking office on January 1, 2024, the Secretary-General has appointed a gender-balanced senior management team, enhanced multilingualism in IMO processes, and set a policy of participating only in public events or panels with gender representation.