Lawyer Wins International Maritime Prize

The IMO Council has unanimously agreed to award the prestigious International Maritime Prize for 2012 to Dr. Thomas A. Mensah of Ghana, former President of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Legal Affairs and External Relations Division at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), for his significant contribution to the work and objectives of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

In nominating his candidature, the Government of Ghana drew attention to Dr. Mensah’s distinguished career in international maritime affairs, as a specialist in public international law, the law of treaties, shipping law, the international law of the sea and international environmental law.
 
The nomination highlighted Dr. Mensah’s long career at IMO (initially in the Organization’s Legal Office and then as Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Legal Affairs and External Relations Division) followed by his appointment as a Judge at the newly-established International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) , from 1996 to 2005. He was also elected as the first President of the Tribunal, from 1996 to 1999.

International Maritime Prize
The International Maritime Prize is awarded annually by IMO to the individual or organization judged to have made the most significant contribution to the work and objectives of the Organization. It consists of a sculpture in the form of a dolphin and includes a financial award, upon submission of a paper written on a subject relevant to IMO.

The prize will be presented to Dr. Mensah at a special ceremony, on a date to be arranged.