The International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council, during its 138th session held this week in London, supported the extension of Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez for another four-year term. This decision was made at a time when the maritime industry is facing major challenges, including the safety of seafarers and geopolitical tensions.
Extension of the IMO Secretary-General's Term
Arsenio Dominguez, who has been elected as the tenth Secretary-General of the IMO, was appointed to this position in July 2023, and his four-year term will begin on January 1, 2024. The IMO Council announced that it will present its decision to extend Dominguez's term to the full IMO Assembly in late 2027. His second term will run from January 1, 2028, to December 31, 2031.
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Dominguez, with over 25 years of experience in the maritime field and as a naval architect, was appointed as Panama's alternate representative to the IMO in 2004 and then elected as Panama's ambassador to the IMO in 2014. Since taking office as Secretary-General in 2024, he has been working to establish an agreement on carbon reduction and promote the "net zero" framework.
Security Challenges and Rising Violence
During this session, Dominguez referred to the increase in violence and attacks on seafarers in various geographical areas, stating that since the onset of the Gulf War, the number of seafarers killed has reached 25. The IMO has also confirmed that at least 130 attacks on commercial vessels have been recorded. The council condemned these attacks and called for stronger actions to protect seafarers.
Alongside this issue, the rise of piracy in the Gulf of Aden was also discussed. The IMO reported that since the beginning of 2023, 17 incidents of attempted and actual piracy have been recorded in this area, while overall piracy has decreased globally.
The IMO Council also supported the Secretary-General's proposal for funding to update the Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS) and approved plans to develop an e-learning platform with an initial budget of £2 million.
Given the security challenges and the need for greater protection of seafarers, Dominguez continues to strengthen the role of the IMO as the global regulatory body for shipping and aims to establish the necessary agreements to address existing issues in the maritime industry.
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