IMO Elects New Forty-Member Council

The IMO assembly has elected a new council for the 2016-2017 biennium. The council is the executive organ of IMO and is responsible, under the assembly, for supervising the work of the organization. 

The following states have been elected:

Category (a) 10 States with the largest interest in providing international shipping services:

China, Greece, Italy, Japan, Norway, Panama, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United States.

Category (b) 10 States with the largest interest in international seaborne trade:

Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden.

Category (c) 20 States not elected under (a) or (b) above, which have special interests in maritime transport or navigation and whose election to the council will ensure the representation of all major geographic areas of the world:

Australia, Bahamas, Belgium, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Indonesia, Kenya, Liberia, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey.

The newly elected council will meet, following the conclusion of the 29th Assembly, for its 115th session (on December 3) and will elect its Chairman and Vice-Chairman for the next biennium.

IMO Assembly 

The 29th Assembly of IMO is meeting in London at IMO Headquarters from November 23 to December 2. All 171 member states and three associate members are entitled to attend the assembly, which is IMO’s highest governing body. The intergovernmental organizations with which agreements of co-operation have been concluded and international non-governmental organizations in consultative status with IMO are also invited to attend.

The assembly normally meets once every two years in regular session. It is responsible for approving the work program, voting the budget and determining the financial arrangements of the organization. It also elects the organization’s 40-member council.