Mr. Arsenio Antonio Dominguez Velasco has been confirmed as the next Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The IMO Assembly unanimously approved (30 November) the decision of the Council at its 129th session (C129) to appoint him to the role.
Mr. Dominguez Velasco will take up the office of Secretary-General on 1 January 2024 for an initial term of four years, ending on 31 December 2027. He becomes the Organization’s 10th elected Secretary-General.
The outgoing Secretary-General, Mr. Kitack Lim, congratulated his successor on his appointment. Mr. Lim said:
“I am confident that the Membership as a whole has made a wise decision, and that Mr. Dominguez Velasco will ably lead the Secretariat in promoting the mandate of the Organization and in the delivery of its objectives.”
Addressing the Assembly, Mr. Dominguez Velasco said:
“You have my full commitment to build on the great work that has been done by my predecessors, taking what is already a significant and influential organization, to be an institution that will thrive in delivering its full agenda, from safety to decarbonization, from digitalization to the human element; an International Maritime Organization that not only looks towards the future, but does more in embracing change, diversity, inclusion and transparency; one that is dedicated to its people, from all the very professional staff that form the IMO Secretariat, to our seafarers worldwide and perhaps most importantly, a dedication to the younger generations, the ones we are obliged to hand over to, to hand over a planet that is a better place to live in.”
Australia elected to IMO Council
The Assembly of the International Maritime Organization has elected the Members of its Council for the 2024-2025 biennium. Australia has been elected as a member to “Category (b)” – as one of the 10 countries with the largest interest in international seaborne trade.
Another category is Category (a): 10 States with the largest interest in providing international shipping services.
The final category is Category (c): 20 countries not elected under (a) or (b) above that have special interests in maritime transport or navigation and whose election to the Council will ensure the representation of all major geographic areas of the world.
The Council is the executive organ of IMO and is responsible, under the Assembly, for supervising the work of the Organization. Between sessions of the Assembly, the Council performs the functions of the Assembly, except that of making recommendations to Governments on maritime safety and pollution prevention.
