Important issues of international shipping, including the path to decarbonization by 2050, will dominate the 33rd general assembly of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London, starting today.
The IMO general assembly will be attended by the Minister of Shipping, Christos Stylianidis, who will deliver his speech to the plenary session on the first day of the proceedings. Stylianidis will also hold a series of bilateral talks, including a meeting with the IMO Secretary General, Kitack Lim.
One of the main issues on the agenda is Greece’s re-election in the first category of countries participating in the council.
Greek shipping enjoys international recognition, as our country has a balanced line and refrains from extreme views, which also stems from the firm belief that the IMO should remain a technical organization that produces international standards that should be applied by all countries, in order to achieve fair practices in shipping.
IMO member countries recognize that Greece is the first shipping power in the world and has one of the best quality flags in the world, since it is 7th in the inspection system worldwide, according to the performance of the Paris MoU.
The IMO consists of 174 member states and meets once every two years in regular sessions but can also meet in extraordinary sessions if necessary.
The topics to be discussed
In the International Maritime Organization, the strategy for decarbonization until 2050 will be formally ratified. Greece aims through the IMO to be able to have alternative green fuels in shipping, but who will produce them and when, it is out of the IMO’s jurisdiction.
The actual debate on how to achieve decarbonization will take place from March 2024, examining long-term issues, including a carbon levy for all ships internationally. Also, an important issue will be the electoral process for the nomination of the members of the council, where Greece is claiming its re-election in the first category.
The general assembly of the IMO is expected to update the member states’ control system, in order to see if the countries apply the legislation. The aim is to protect the safety of ships and the marine environment, while the specific control is carried out every seven years in the member states of the IMO.
Finally, the appointment of the new IMO Secretary General, Arsenio Antonio Dominguez Velasco, for the five-year period 2024-2029 will be ratified.
