IMO Awards Ceremony 2023

Speeches by IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim

IMO Awards Ceremony, 27 November 2023

IMO Headquarters


Opening remarks

Mr. President, Excellencies, Council Chair, distinguished delegates and observers, ladies and gentlemen.

It is a great pleasure to extend a warm welcome to each of you this evening to the 2023 IMO Awards Ceremony, a distinguished event honoring recipients of two esteemed awards, now deeply rooted in the tradition of IMO.

Since its inception in 1981, the International Maritime Prize has honoured an illustrious line of remarkable individuals from across the world.

Celebrating its seventeenth year, the IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea has recognized seafarers and professional rescuers for their extraordinary courage. These heroes have fearlessly risked their lives, displaying exceptional bravery and outstanding courage in attempting to save life at sea or to prevent or you mitigate damage to the marine environment.

Both awards, therefore, recognize individuals who embody the essence of IMO's mission: the preservation of life at sea and the prevention of pollution.

Following this ceremony, I cordially invite you to join us for a reception on the first floor.

Thank you.

International Maritime Prize for 2022 - Anneliese Jost

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

The recipient of the International Maritime Prize for 2022 was nominated by the Government of Germany. She is known for her immense technical expertise in maritime safety, and her calm but firm way of communicating alongside her ability to convince others. She successfully chaired IMO technical sub-committees for a decade, a feat accomplished by few in IMO's history, which underscores her exceptional capabilities.

I am, of course, talking about Ms Anneliese Jost.

Anneliese, you have made a significant contribution towards achieving the objectives of IMO, particularly in enhancing maritime safety.

Allow me to reflect on the early stages of your career, illuminating your profound grasp of technical safety matters at IMO.

Anneliese was born in Munich. She attended Hanover Technical University of Applied Sciences in Germany and, in 1985, graduated from the University of Michigan, United States, with a degree in mechanical engineering with a specialisation in shipbuilding.

Ms. Jost's career has included periods as a construction supervisor in the field of hydraulic engineering in Berlin, and as a surveyor of newly built ships in the ship safety department of the classification society Germanischer Lloyd in Hamburg.

In 2000, Ms. Jost was appointed as Assistant Head of the Maritime Safety Division within Germany's Ministry for Digital and Transport. In 2006, she became Deputy Head of the Division. From 2019 until her retirement in January 2023, she headed Germany's IMO audit team.

Ms. Jost led the German delegation to IMO and was responsible for various studies which enabled further development of IMO regulations. During her time with the German delegation, she acted as a technical expert to various IMO bodies.

Between 2006-2016, Ms. Jost chaired the IMO Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Equipment, and on Ship Design and Construction. This period saw the adoption of mandatory measures on towing wrecked ships, deliberations on verifiable maintenance of life-saving appliances, and the Code of Safety for Special Purpose Ships. Her work also laid the groundwork for the Polar Code, endorsed in 2014, establishing possible additional requirements for navigation in polar waters.

She has been Chair of the Working Party on Subdivision, Stability and Load Lines of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS).

All in all, this immense technical expertise has been invaluable to IMO.

Anneliese, your impact on the maritime world and on IMO's work has been outstanding.

It is my utmost pleasure to extend my heartfelt congratulations and present you with this year's prestigious International Maritime Prize.

Humanitarian tragedy of lives lost at sea through unsafe, mixed migration

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

Before we proceed to the next award, I wish to draw your attention to the humanitarian tragedy of lives lost at sea through unsafe, mixed migration.

In the Mediterranean alone, every year sees thousands of people on dangerous crossings, in unsafe vessels.

According to figures from the International Organization for Migration, the Mediterranean has seen over 266,400 sea arrivals or attempted crossings in 2023, resulting in more than 2,400 people being reported dead or missing. We will all recall with horror one single tragic incident in August this year, where numerous lives were tragically lost.

Sadly, among those undertaking these perilous journeys are individuals who have put their lives in the hands of unscrupulous smugglers and other predators.

It is crucial to recognize the tireless efforts of coast guards, navies, search and rescue agencies, and merchant vessels in rescuing individuals in distress at sea. Their commitment to the maritime spirit has undoubtedly prevented an even higher death toll.

The IMO Assembly decided to give special recognition to merchant vessels and their crew involved in rescuing mixed migrants at sea and invited Member States to provide information on merchant vessels and their crew that deserved of commendation.

This year, IMO has issued seventeen special certificates marking the commendation of the Assembly for the bravery, professionalism and compassion demonstrated by the nominees.

The certificates, for the crucial role everyone on board their vessels played in rescuing and assisting persons in distress at sea, go to:

  • Captain Omer Sheker and the crew of the M/V Sen Arche, nominated by Georgia.
  • Captain Shalay Andrey and the crew of the M/V Front Samara, nominated by Georgia.
  • Captain Leo Malunes Sacmar Jr. and the crew of the M/V Christina V, nominated by the Marshall Islands.
  • Captain Oleg Gudkov and the crew of the oil/chemical tanker Broadway, nominated by the Marshall Islands.
  • Captain Gladnick Savio Cabral and the crew of the M/V Leda Maersk, nominated by ICS.
  • Captain Mariusz Miszczak and the crew of the M/V Santa Isabel, nominated by ICS.
  • Captain Ioannis Kasimatis and the crew of the M/S Celebrity Infinity, nominated by CLIA.
  • Captain Andrea Catalani and the crew of the M/S Carnival Celebration, nominated by CLIA.
  • Captain Panagiotis Panagopoulos and the crew of the M/S Mariner of the Seas, nominated by CLIA.
  • Captain Massimiliano Roja and the crew of the M/S Carnival Paradise, nominated twice by CLIA.
  • Captain Sindre Borsheim and the crew of the M/S Odyssey of the Seas, nominated by CLIA.
  • Captain Niccolo' De Ranieri and the crew of the M/S Carnival Mardi Gras, nominated by CLIA.
  • Captain Gianmario Sanguineti and the crew of the M/S Azamara Journey, nominated by CLIA.
  • Captain Kate McCue and the crew of the M/S Celebrity Beyond, nominated by CLIA.
  • The Master and crew of the M/V Jolly Quarzo, nominated by UNHRC. AND
  • The Master and crew of the M/V Zagara, nominated separately by India and UNHRC.

I extend my sincere gratitude to all countries and organizations that provided information about commendable rescues. I offer my deepest tribute to the officers and crew involved in these courageous incidents. I will also take this opportunity to encourage Member States and observer organizations to continue to notify us of such actions.

But most importantly, my heartfelt is reserved for the remarkable seafarers who honour the enduring humanitarian traditions of the sea every single day. I also express profound appreciation for the dedicated rescue services, including coast guards, for their unwavering dedication to sea rescue.

May I invite us all to show our collective appreciation through applause, as a mark of respect for the valiant men and women who courageously risk their lives to save others.

Thank you.