Council, 133rd session (C 133), 18-22 November 2024

The Council met for its 133rd session from 18 to 22 November, 2024 at IMO Headquarters in London (with hybrid participation). The session was chaired by Mr. Victor Jimenez Fernandez (Spain), supported by Mrs. Amane Fethallah (Morocco) as Vice-Chair.  

Red Sea attacks   

The Council recalled that a whole year had passed since the seizure of MV Galaxy Leader and its crew, who remain detained. The Council reiterated its call for their release and the cessation of attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden region. 

The Council expressed its appreciation for the Secretary-General's continuing efforts towards enhancing the safety of the transit of ships and seafarers in the Red Sea, particularly through his engagement with Member States and his recent visit to the region.  

Amendments to the Rules of Procedure    

The Council approved several amendments to its Rules of Procedures, including those that formalize the use of hybrid capabilities for meetings of the Council. 

The amendments to the Rules of stipulate the following:  

  • Council sessions are to be held in person, with capabilities for hybrid participation.  
  • Members participating either in person or remotely through the hybrid system shall be counted in determining quorum. 
  • The phrase "Members present" means Members present at the meeting, participating either in person or remotely through the hybrid system. 
  • The Chair and the Vice-Chair of the Council shall be present in person, unless exceptional circumstances arise. 
  • Council sessions will be held in public unless the Council decides otherwise, and public meetings of the Council will be live-streamed. 

The Council agreed to harmonize the relevant Rules of Procedure of the Council with those of the Assembly and other organs to the extent possible. 

The Council agreed that the Rules of Procedure of the Council related to the Conduct of business and to Voting should be aligned with those of the UN General Assembly to the extent necessary. 

The Council did not agree to proxy voting.  

Live-streaming Council meetings  

The Council adopted a resolution on the Criteria and procedures for live-streaming to the public of IMO Council plenary meetings, following its decision at its previous session (C 132) to live-stream plenary meetings to the public, with a view to enhancing transparency and access to information.  

The resolution states that plenary meetings of the Council should normally be live-streamed to the public, except for the following: 

  • parts of the Council during which vote casting takes place (not limited to voting by secret ballot);  
  • parts of the Council related to the appointment of the Secretary-General; and 
  • any other discussion that the Council may decide should not be live-streamed.  

Meetings of working, drafting, review, expert, intersessional and editing groups should not be live-streamed to the public. 

The Council agreed to keep the Criteria and procedures on live-streaming to the public of IMO Council plenary meetings under review. 

Strategy and planning: managing risk 

The Council noted the improvements made to the Secretariat’s risk management process to ensure a robust system for the the implementation of the Organization's strategic directions. This includes the development of a revised Risk Management Framework consisting of: 

  • An enhanced Risk Management Policy with clearly defined scope, guiding principles, roles and responsibilities, list of risk categories and a streamlined risk management process that reflects best practices and lessons learned from previous years; and  
  • A Risk Appetite Statement, based on the Guidelines on Risk Appetite Statements developed by the UN High Level Committee on Management (HLCM)'s Risk Management Forum and endorsed by the UN Chief Executive Board (CEB). The risk appetite statement expresses the amount of risk the Organization is willing to accept in pursuit of its goals. 

Enhancement of multilingualism at IMO   

The Council noted the ongoing work to enhance multilingualism in the Organization through the Strategic Framework for Multilingualism, in accordance with Assembly Resolution A. 1180 (33). 

Phase 2 of the Action Plan on the Strategic Framework for Multilingualism is currently being developed by the Secretariat, consisting of administrative and operational guidelines for the implementation of the strategic framework. This phase work will take into consideration the results of a six-month trial period in translating documents to additional languages, conducted by the Secretariat.  

The administrative and operational guidelines will be presented for consideration at the 134th session of the Council (C 134).  

IMO Member State Audit Scheme 

The IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS) requires Member States to be assessed periodically on their overall performance in complying with and implementing relevant IMO instruments.  Since the scheme became mandatory in 2016, a total of 132 audits have been conducted to date.  

The Council endorsed a revised overall audit schedule for 2025, with 22 countries confirmed to be audited and three awaiting confirmation. Audited Member States were encouraged to authorize the Secretariat to release their audit reports, including the audit final report, to the public.  

Key lessons learned from these audits are included in consolidated audit summary reports (CASRs).  The Council requested the Maritime Safety Committee and the Marine Environment Protection Committee to consider the latest CASR containing lessons learned from 10 mandatory audits completed in 2022 and 2023, and to advise the Council of the outcome of their discussions. 

Audited Member States were invited to provide the Secretariat with their comments on the progress of the implementation of their corrective action plans (CPICAP); and if applicable, provide information and documentary evidence requested through the draft audit follow-up reports (DAFRs), in a timely manner. 

The Council encouraged Member States to ensure inclusivity and diversity in their nomination of auditors, particularly by increasing the participation of women and younger professionals. 

The Council noted the report of the eighth session of the Joint Working Group on the Member State Audit Scheme (JWGMSA) and requested the Secretariat to collate the comments made in plenary for consideration at the ninth session of the JWGMSA in March 2025. 

Enhancement of GISIS  

The Council noted the ongoing progress being made to upgrade and improve the IMO’s Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS). GISIS is an online hub for the collection, processing and sharing of shipping-related data.  

Since September 2024, the Secretariat has engaged a company to conduct the first phase of the process to modernize GISIS. This entails an assessment of existing systems and needs, and the development of technical specifications for the GISIS upgrade as well as a data management enhancement plan.  

The second phase will begin in early 2025, looking at the resources required to implement the technical and functional specification for an enhanced GISIS and data management enhancement plan. The project will continue to be financially supported by the Voyage Together Trust Fund.  

The Secretary-General will present a report on the progress at the next session of Council (C 134).  

Report of the Maritime Environment Protection Committee  

The Council approved the report of the eighty-second session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 82) in general and transmitted it along with comments and recommendations, to the Assembly at its thirty-fourth session (A 34). 

The Council took the following actions: 

  • Endorsed the change made to the title of output 1.16 to read "Experience-building phase (EBP) for the reduction of underwater noise from shipping" with the target completion year extended to 2026; 
  • Endorsed the inclusion of an output on "Review and development of NOx emission requirements in MARPOL Annex VI and the NOx Technical Code 2008" in the post-biennial agenda of MEPC, assigning the Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR) as the associated organ;  
  • Endorsed the holding of the first meeting of the Intersessional Working Group on Air Pollution and Energy Efficiency (ISWG-APEE 1), the eighteenth and nineteenth meetings of the Intersessional Working Group on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships (ISWG-GHG 18 and 19) and an intersessional meeting of the Technical Group on the Evaluation of Safety and Pollution Hazards of Chemicals (ESPH). 

IMO Gender Equality Award 

The Council unanimously endorsed Ms. Karin Orsel, nominated by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, as the recipient of the 2025 IMO Gender Equality Award. Ms. Orsel is the co-founder and CEO of shipping management company MF Shipping. 

The Award recognizes individuals, irrespective of their gender, who have made significant contributions to advancing gender equality in the maritime sector. The awards ceremony will take place on Friday, 16 May 2025, at the IMO Headquarters, during the celebration of the International Day for Women in Maritime.  

The Council further endorsed the following nominees to receive letters of commendation for their dedication to women’s empowerment throughout their careers: 

  • Ms. Flavia Takafashi, nominated by Brazil  
  • Captain Chunpei Zhan, nominated by China  
  • Ms. Katy Ware, nominated by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) 
  • Ms. Elvia Adelina Bustavino Cedeño, nominated by Panama 
  • Ms. Jung Min, nominated by the Republic of Korea 

Status of IMO Conventions 

The Council noted that two IMO Conventions and three amendments that have not yet entered into force. Treaties that have not yet fulfilled the conditions for entry into force include: 

  • Protocol of 2010 to the International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea, 1996 (2010 HNS Protocol) 
  • Cape Town Agreement of 2012 on the Implementation of the Provisions of the 1993 Protocol relating to the Torremolinos International Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels, 1977 (2012 Cape Town Agreement) 

The following amendments have not yet entered into force: 

  • 2008 amendments to the Convention on the International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO) 
  • 2009 amendment to the 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972 (London Protocol) (LP.3(4))  
  • 2013 amendments to the 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972 (London Protocol) (LP.4(8)) 

The Council endorsed and supported the Secretary-General's continuing efforts to encourage Governments to consider acceding to those IMO treaty instruments to which they were not yet party. 

The Council expressed support for ongoing efforts by Member States and the Secretariat to bring the 2010 HNS Protocol and the 2012 Cape Town Agreement into force at the earliest possible opportunity. 

Global maritime training institutions 

The Council noted reports from the World Maritime University (WMU) and the IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMO-IMLI) on their operations during 2023, including information on budget performance and future projections.  

In 2023, WMU reported 286 graduates from 71 States and territories. Out of this total, 102 were female, representing 36% of graduates.  

IMO-IMLI reported 54 graduates from 35 States and territories, for the academic year 2022-2023. That same year, there were 342 enrolments, 53% of which were female.   

The Council once again urged Member States to take action to enable recognition of the degrees conferred by the two institutions, under their national legislation.  

The Council strongly urged Member States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and industry to continue to support the institutions through direct contributions to their budget, scholarship financing, equipment donation or any other assistance.   

Relations with intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations 

The Council agreed with the request by the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA) for an arrangement of cooperation with IMO, following its transition from a non-governmental to an intergovernmental organization. 

The decision will be submitted for approval by the Assembly at its 34th session.  

IMO Gift Acceptance Policy 

Gifts received by the IMO Secretariat contribute to a valued collection which requires sound management and preservation. The Council endorsed the IMO Gift Acceptance Policy, outlining procedures for donating and receiving ornamental gifts from Member States, Associate Members and observer organizations. The new policy provides a responsible framework for addressing gift offers, including a risk assessment on how the gift may impact the IMO’s principles, name, reputation, or funding.   

Budget  

The Council noted that the annual budget approved by the Assembly for 2024 is £59.13 million, and £60.87 million for 2025. The projected total expenditure for 2024 is £56.54 million, which is within the budgets approved for all funds. The actual expenditure up to 30 September 2024 stood approximately at £35.19 million.  

The Secretary-General will present a budget outline for 2026-2027 to the next Council session (C 134). 

Member State contributions  

The Council noted that as at 30 September 2024, 88.64% of the current year's assessed contributions from Member States had been received (compared to 80.46% in 2023 and 93.69% in 2022 at the same period). The Council urged all Member States that had not yet done so to meet their financial obligations to the Organization as early as possible.  

Human resources 

The Council noted improvements being made to the Secretariat’s recruitment processes to enhance efficiency, reducing the length of time to recruit staff and increasing the number of recruits completed.  By July 2024, the number of completed recruitments exceeded the average yearly total since 2021. 

Gender parity has been achieved at the D2 level (senior management). Since C 132, it has also improved at D1 level. Overall, at professional level posts and higher, women represent 43.38% of regular posts and 51.61% of project posts. 

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