In his address at a news conference on January 14, 2025, Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez emphasized the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) commitment to addressing global challenges in the maritime sector. He highlighted concerns about the “dark fleet” that evades compliance with safety and environmental regulations, emphasizing the need for all ships to meet IMO standards. The IMO is increasing technical cooperation and capacity-building efforts to help Member States enforce regulations effectively.
The IMO does not impose sanctions but follows those set by the UN Security Council. Secretary-General Dominguez called on Member States to fulfill their obligations as Parties to IMO instruments, as outlined in a resolution adopted by the IMO Assembly in December 2023. The issue will be further discussed at the upcoming session of the IMO’s Legal Committee in March 2025. Additionally, reports of attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea area have had significant impacts on the industry and global economy.
Efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the MV Galaxy Leader and its crew, who have been detained since November 2023. Secretary-General Dominguez’s upcoming mission to Egypt includes opening the IMO Regional Presence Office in Alexandria to provide technical assistance in maritime safety, security, and environmental protection. Progress is also being made on negotiations for new binding regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships, with measures such as a global marine fuel standard and pricing mechanism expected to be adopted in October 2025. Other topics discussed at the session included seafarer abandonment, ocean protection, ship recycling, and diversity in the maritime sector.
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