One month into his new role, Arsenio Dominguez, new Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, told journalists at a press briefing that a priority was focusing on the image of the organisation. “We normally tend to be in the news when something wrong happens, an incident or accident. We tend to be compared with other industries, but there is not enough highlighting all the good things that happen,” he said. The IMO is busy working with 175 Member States looking into all of their concerns. He pointed out. “We shouldn’t just be out there when there is an incident or accident.”

Noting that shipping was more in the news during Covid-19, he pulled out a favourite quote: “No seafarers, no shipping, no shopping”. At the age of 53, Dominguez is the youngest ever Secretary-General of the IMO – a fact that when mentioned by a journalist appeared to take him by surprise.

Asked whether the Red Sea/Suez Canal crisis, Black Sea conflict and Panama Canal drought added up to an unprecedented situation for shipping, he said: “I have been in the job for a month but have been part of this amazing organisation and sector for over 25 years. We have had challenges in the past. But it is unprecedented.

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"We normally tend to be in the news when something wrong happens, an incident or accident."

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“However, this industry is resilient and continues to demonstrate how it is ready to serve the world and demonstrate that it can reach agreements and bring parties together – and for me, it is a privilege to lead this team.” Setting out the IMO’s plans and focus areas for the next four years, Dominguez discussed safety, decarbonisation, and the environment, supporting Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs), improving public awareness and image, and enhancing relations with people and stakeholders.

ISSA is a long-standing non-governmental organisation at the IMO.

www.imo.org

By JULIAN BERRY 5th APRIL 2024