IMO appoints new Secretary-General

LONDON: The International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council has appointed Arsenio Antonio Dominguez Velasco of the RepublicofPanama,foraninitial4-yeartermasthenext Secretary-General.

Valesco will start his tenure as of 1 January 2024, subject to the Assembly’s approval.

The decision was cast via a secret ballot carried out today as part of the 129th session of the Council of the IMO taking place from 17thtothe21stofJuly2023.

Seven member states of the IMO had nominated candidatesforthepostofSecretary-General,astheterm of the current incumbent, Kitack Lim of the Republic of Korea,issettoexpireonDecember31,2023.

The seven nominees were Moin Uddin Ahmed of Bangladesh, Suat Hayri Aka of Turkey, Arsenio Antonio Dominguez Velasco of Panama, Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry of Dominica, Nancy Karigithu of Kenya,MinnaKivimäkiofFinland,andZhangXiaojie ofChina.

The new Secretary General of the IMO will have a massive responsibility in steering the industry forward, especially on the heels of the new targets agreed under the 2023 Strategy on the Reduction of Greenhouse Gas EmissionsfromShippingjustoveraweekago.

“It has been a great pleasure and privilege to work with Kitack Lim over the past eight years. Kitack steered the International Maritime Organization (IMO) successfully through challenging times, calmly and with direction, and everyone at the InternationalChamberofShippingwishesKitackevery success in his future endeavours,” Guy Platten, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping, said.

“We look forward to working with Mr Arsenio Dominguez(Panama),andknowthatMrDominguezwill lead with equal measures of authority, purpose and compassion. The position of IMO Secretary General is not an easy one, and there are undoubtedly challenges ahead as the industry strives to meet the 2030, 2040 and 2050 targets, but it will be a pleasure to tackle these challenges head on with Mr Dominguez for a better and saferfutureforourindustryanditspeople.”