Council, 132nd session (C 132) - Closing remarks

ADDRESS OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL AT THE CLOSING OF THE 132ND SESSION OF THE COUNCIL (C 132), 8 to 12 July 2024

Delivered by IMO Secretary-General Mr. Arsenio Dominguez on 12 July 2024

Mr. Chair, distinguished delegates, 

We have come to the end of another session of the Council.

First of all, I wish to thank you all for the consistent support you have given me from the moment you adopted the revised agenda through your interventions on the various agenda items.

I truly appreciate your support and confidence, and I can assure you that I will continue my work with the same conviction and positive energy.

I want to assure you that I will not rest in stressing the importance of protecting seafarers from attacks in the Red Sea, acts of piracy, detention, and criminalization. And I am prepared to engage in meaningful discussions with all of you, even when they may be somewhat challenging. It is my duty to advocate for the general interest, which includes safeguarding all seafarers, attracting and training new generations, and reducing the risks and threats they face. 

This meeting was a valuable opportunity for me to listen to you carefully, and I have taken on board your insightful and constructive comments and recommendations, particularly, on multilingualism, the enhancement of GISIS, as well as on the way forward with regard to IMSAS, which are among my key priorities. In the true spirit of the multicultural environment which reigns at IMO, you approved the observance, recognition and designation of Eid al-Fitr and Eid-al-Adha as official holidays at IMO.

Allow me to reiterate my sincere congratulations to those granted the IMO awards for Exceptional Bravery at Sea and the International Maritime Prize.

I would also like to express my appreciation for your decision on live streaming the IMO Council plenary session. We will immediately start our preparations to enable this at the next session C 133. This progress marks a critical step towards enhancing the transparency and modernization of IMO.

As always, and this always one of the most difficult parts, this is also an opportune moment to express our gratitude to those delegates and experts who are leaving and concluding their tenure with us and for whom this marks the final session of the Council. 

The following representatives will leave after Council:

  1. Ms. Katy Ware (UK) 
  2. Ms. Norma Munguía Aldaraca (Mexico)

The following representatives will leave after III 10:

  1. Mr. Darrick Leow (Singapore)
  2. Mr. Peter Ostenfeld (Denmark)
  3. Mr. Giacomo Giubbilini (Italy)
  4. Mr. Khalid Ahmad Albakri (Qatar)

We wish them all the best for their future endeavours.

My sincere gratitude goes to your Chair, Mr. Victor Jimenez Fernandez of Spain, whose exemplary leadership has guided us through this session with success.

My appreciation also goes to the Vice-Chair, Ms. Amane Fethallah of Morocco, who successfully chaired the Working Group on Council Reform and bringing its work to a fruitful conclusion.

Council, unlike other meetings, requires the involvement of all Divisions in the Secretariat. I am grateful for the efforts of my Office and the Administrative Division, who led the preparations and coordination for this meeting; the Legal Affairs and External Relations Division, who handled several agenda items; and the technical divisions for the provision of the reports of the committees: MED, MSD, and TCID. And last but by no means least, the Conference Division, who had the significant and huge task of producing all the documents for the session, in all working languages. I also take this opportunity to express my thanks to the interpreters, who once again have facilitated our seamless communication during our meeting.

I wish you all a restful weekend, and a safe journey to your destinations.

Thank you. 

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