Australia welcomes new International Maritime Organisation Secretary-General

The Australian Government welcomes the appointment of Mr Arsenio Antonio Dominguez Velasco of Panama as the new Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

The IMO is the United Nations’ specialised agency responsible for setting standards for safety, efficiency of navigation, security, trade facilitation and environmental performance of international shipping.

Mr Dominguez Velasco brings significant maritime experience to the role of Secretary-General and we welcome the announcement of his appointment. We look forward to working with him.

Australia relies on sea transport for 99 per cent of our imports and exports, with a large volume of our domestic freight also dependant on coastal shipping.

That is why the Australian Government supports a safe and sustainable maritime sector that continues to underpin our national economy and the wellbeing of all Australians.

This includes working domestically and internationally, including as a council member of the IMO, to drive maritime safety reforms and lead on other priorities including the sector’s sustainable decarbonisation.

With our own legislated national target of net zero by 2050, Australia is an active player in advocating for the decarbonisation of international shipping. This is something we recently demonstrated during the IMO’s 2023 Greenhouse Gas Strategy negotiations.

We also continue to deliver on critical pieces of IMO work in our waters, such as ensuring the rights of seafarers are respected and the establishment of an efficient digital reporting platform known as a Maritime Single Window.

Australia looks forward to continuing to work in good faith with the IMO on ensuring a safe and sustainable international maritime sector now and into the future.