The secretary general of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has opened its annual week-long meeting by telling delegates its future success depended on their decisions and collective action in bringing together a diverse marine community.

Arsenio Dominguez (above pic) told the opening session of the assembly now was the time for progress on a huge range of priorities.

“We have celebrated successes,” he said. “We have faced challenges – and I hope you have seen the dedication and commitment with which my team and I have approached each and every milestone on our path towards that united and better future.

“My strategic priorities, then, and now, are, to advance our sector, progressing on matters such as safety, security, decarbonization and automation; to increase our visibility as an Organization and as a sector; to be more diverse and transparent, and to enhance our support to all our Member States, particularly in the areas of technical cooperation and capacity development.

“To make progress, I have had to shake and restructure IMO a little, and I have had to shake you, the delegates, up a little too. Many of you have shaken me in return, and I welcome it.  It keeps me on my toes and helps me find my balance.”

Dominguez  added: “We meet today at a time when the maritime sector continues to navigate a complex international environment marked by geopolitical tensions, evolving trade patterns, and an accelerating global transition towards decarbonization and digitalization. This was particularly visible when seafarers and ships were negatively and unjustly affected in the Red and the Black seas.

“Despite these challenges, the central role of international shipping in enabling global trade remains clear, and the work carried out across the Organization’s committees during the last biennium reflects the steady commitment of Member States to strengthening maritime safety, environmental protection, legal certainty, facilitation and capacity development.”

He continued: “During this session, the Assembly will be invited to adopt several important resolutions. In particular, you will consider the new IMO Capacity Development Strategy, the first comprehensive and consolidated strategy of its kind for the Organization. This Strategy establishes a coherent framework for capacity development across the maritime sector, ensuring that technical cooperation and assistance activities are aligned with the evolving needs of Member States and with the Organization’s strategic priorities.”

He concluded: “As always, I wish to reiterate that seafarers remain at the heart of the maritime sector. Their professionalism, resilience and unwavering dedication underpin not only the safety and efficiency of the global supply chain but also the continued ability of maritime transport to support sustainable development worldwide. The Organization remains fully committed to supporting their safety, welfare and well-being.”