Report from the IMO Assembly: Resolutions, strategic plan, budget...

The International Maritime Organization has published a report from the IMO Assembly, 33rd session, held from 27 November - 6 December 2023.

IMO awards event

On the first day of the Assembly, 27 November, IMO hosted the annual IMO Awards Ceremony. Details can be found here.

Strategic Plan

The Assembly adopted the Strategic Plan for the six-year period 2024 to 2029. The eight strategic directions are:

• SD 1: Ensure implementation of IMO instruments supported by capacity development
• SD 2: Integrate new, emerging and advancing technologies in the regulatory framework
• SD 3: Respond to climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping
• SD 4: Continue to engage in ocean governance
• SD 5: Enhance global facilitation, supply chain resilience and security of international trade
• SD 6: Address the human element
• SD 7: Ensure the regulatory effectiveness of international shipping
• SD 8: Ensure organizational effectiveness

Budget and work programme

The Assembly adopted the Organization's budget and work programme for 2024 and 2025.

The Organization's results-based budget for the 2024-2025 biennium is £83,653,000 comprising an appropriation of £40,923,000 for 2024 and an appropriation of £42,730,000 for 2025.

This will be largely financed by contributions from Member States, of £73,153,000, comprising £35,572,000 for 2024 and £37,581,000 for 2025.

Election of members of the IMO Council  

A new 40-Member IMO Council for the 2024-2025 biennium was elected. Read more here.

The newly elected Council met on 7 December (for the Council's 131st session) and re -elected its Chair: Mr. Victor Jiménez. (Spain) and Vice-Chair: Mrs. Amane Fethallah (Morocco). 

Appointment of the Secretary-General   

The Assembly approved the appointment of Mr. Arsenio Antonio Dominguez Velasco (Republic of Panama) as IMO Secretary-General, for an initial four-year term starting on 1 January 2024.

The Assembly adopted an Assembly Resolution on Appreciation of the Services to the Organization of Mr. Kitack Lim.

Other resolutions  

The Assembly adopted a number of resolutions on key aspects of the Organization's work, including: 

• Guidelines on places of refuge for ships in need of assistance 
• Recommendations emanating from the joint action group to review the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the world’s transport workers and the global supply chain (JAG-TSC)
• Survey Guidelines under the Harmonized System of Survey and Certification, 2023   
• 2023 Non-exhaustive list of obligations under instruments relevant to the IMO Instruments Implementation Code (III Code)   
• Procedures for port State control, 2023  
• 2023 Guidelines on the implementation of the ISM Code by Administrations 
• The enhancement of multilingualism
• On the impact of the Russian armed invasion of Ukraine on international shipping
• Implementation of the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009
• Urging Member States and all relevant stakeholders to promote actions to prevent illegal operations in the maritime sector by the 'dark fleet' or 'shadow fleet'
• Enhancing the framework of the fight against organized crime in the maritime sector

(Full list below)

IMO Assembly

The Assembly is open to all 175 IMO Member States and three Associate Members. It is also attended by observers from intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations.  

The Assembly is the highest Governing Body of the Organization and meets once every two years in regular sessions, but may also meet in an extraordinary session, if necessary.

The Assembly is responsible for approving the work programme, the budget and determining the financial arrangements of the Organization.

The Assembly also elects the Members of the Council. In addition, the Assembly adopts certain resolutions emanating from the five IMO Committees and endorses actions of the Council with respect to the admission of new intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations as observers. 

The Assembly also adopts amendments to certain treaties, if so provided therein.  

Assembly opening

The meeting was opened by the outgoing President, H.E. Mr. Antonio Manuel R. Lagdameo, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations.  

The incoming President, H.R.H. Prince Khalid Bin Bandar Bin Sultan Al-Saud, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Saudi Arabia to the United Kingdom, addressed the Assembly.

The Assembly was addressed by the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Mr. Kitack Lim; and Lord Davies of Gower from the host country Government, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.  

The 33rd Assembly elected its officers:

President of the Assembly: H.R.H. Prince Khalid Bin Bandar Bin Sultan Al-Saud, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Saudi Arabia.

First Vice-President: H.E. Ms. Saida Muna Tasneem, High Commissioner and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to IMO.

Second Vice-President, H.E. Mr. Juan Carlos Gamarra Skeels, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Permanent Representative of Peru to IMO.

Committee 1

Chair of Committee 1: Ms. Gillian Grant of Canada, Chair of the Legal Committee.

Vice-Chairs: Mr. Burak Aykan of Türkiye and H.E. Captain Ian Finley of the Cook Islands.

Committee 2

Chair of Committee 2: Dr. Harry Conway, Alternate Permanent Representative of Liberia to IMO and Chair of the Marine Environment Protection Committee. .

Vice-Chairs: Dr. Anita Mäkinen of Finland and Admiral Cristiano Aliperta of Palau.

Credentials Committee

Chair of the Credentials Committee: H.E. Mr. Giampaolo Bensaia of San Marino.

Full list of resolutions adopted 

A.1173(33) Strategic plan for the Organization for the six-year period 2024 to 2029

A.1174(33) Application of the Strategic Plan of the Organization  

A.1175(33) Appreciation of the Services to the Organization of Mr. Kitack Lim

A.1176(33) Approval of the appointment of the Secretary-General

A.1177(33) Arrears of contribution

A.1178(33) Presentation of audited financial statements and report of the external auditors

A.1179(33) Results-based budget for the 2024-2025 biennium

A.1180(33) The enhancement of multilingualism at IMO

A.1181(33) Appointment of the external auditor

A.1182(33) Amendments to the financial regulations of the International Maritime Organization

A.1183(33) The impact of the Russian armed invasion of Ukraine on international shipping

A.1184(33) Guidelines on places of refuge for ships in need of assistance  

A.1185(33) Procedures for port State control, 2023  

A.1186(33) Survey Guidelines under the Harmonized System of Survey and

Certification (HSSC), 2023   

A.1187(33) 2023 Non-exhaustive list of obligations under instruments relevant to the IMO Instruments Implementation Code (III Code)  

A.1188(33) 2023 Guidelines on the implementation of the ISM Code by Administrations   

A.1189(33) Recommendations emanating from the joint action group to review the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the world’s transport workers and the global supply chain (JAG-TSC)

A.1190(33) Enhancing the framework of the fight against organized crime in the maritime sector

A.1191(33) Implementation of the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009

A.1192(33) Urging Member States and all relevant stakeholders to promote actions to prevent illegal operations in the maritime sector by the 'dark fleet' or 'shadow fleet'

A.1193(33) Appreciation of the Services to the World Maritime university (WMU) of Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry

A.1194(33) Relations with Non-Governmental Organizations   

A.1195(33) Special recognition for merchant vessels and their crew involved in the rescue of mixed migrants at sea

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