SMM Is there anything you would like to change or adapt in IMO’s work? Dominguez: To support this vision, I have taken steps to restructure the Secretariat, creating the Technical Cooperation and Implementation Division (TCID), which brings together the former Technical Cooperation Division, the Department of Member State Audit and Implementation Support, and the Department of Partnerships and Projects. By uniting these branches, I have created a structure that supports more coherence between our technical cooperation planning and programming, the implementation of the ITCP and longterm projects, utilizing, as much as possible, the findings of audit results, and facilitated by effective resource mobilization. Our image is another priority, as we need to enhance public awareness of IMO9s impact. Finally, our people: a people-centered approach will ensure that we build a maritime community that is connected, committed and empowered to achieve our shared goals. We will use IMO9s presence at key global conferences, including the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference, to highlight and promote IMO9s work to protect the ocean. What do you expect in maritime environmental regulation in the short and medium term? Dominguez: We have in place mandatory energy efficiency measures for ships, including the Energy Efficiency Design Index, Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) and the annual operational carbon intensity indicator (CII) and CII rating. The 2023 IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships sets out the clear ambition to reach net-zero GHG emissions by or around, i.e. close to, 2050, taking into account different national circumstances. The related ambition is for uptake of zero or near-zero GHG emission technologies, fuels and/or energy sources to represent at least 5 % striving for 10 % of the energy used by international shipping by 2030. IMO Member states agreed at the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 81) session in March 2024 on an illustration of a possible outline of the »IMO net-zero framework«, the next step in this process. This framework will The IMO Headquarter in London include the so-called »mid-term« measures: a technical element, namely a goal-based marine fuel standard regulating the phased reduction of the marine fuel9s GHG intensity; and an economic element, on the basis of a maritime GHG emissions pricing mechanism. The impact assessment of these measures has been completed and the next discussions will take place soon after SMM meets. I am confident we will see further progress in developing the »IMO net-zero framework«. And do you see any potential technological or commercial learning effects from other industries that could help accelerate decarbonization in shipping? Dominguez: Of course, we can learn from other sectors and look at best practices. We need to work closely with other sectors – shipping will need access to alternative fuels through the bunkering industry and the renewable energy sector will need to provide those fuels. We have been working closely with International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) to promote the opportunities developing countries may have in providing zero-carbon fuels to global shipping. Currently and recently, there are different political and geopolitical developments around the world that have an impact on the shipping industry, such as the security issue in the Red Sea, the war in Ukraine or growing tensions between different countries. Do you expect or are you concerned that these developments could have a – potentially negative – impact on the work of the IMO? Dominguez: Geopolitical events have had – and are having – a detrimental impact on shipping. Everybody feels the negative effect if international shipping is not able to trade as normal. Shipping should be left alone. I will always stand up for seafarers and I strongly condemn any type of attack against international shipping, regardless of its motivation or cause. I have repeatedly called on all governments and relevant organizations to provide maximum assistance to seafarers affected, and to spare no effort in finding a resolution to this crisis. My commitment is, above all, safeguarding the safety of all seafarers. Having said that, shipping is resilient. IMO continues to provide the forum where all the Member States come together to discuss the whole range of issues that impact on shipping. IMO Member States continue to push ahead with the work at hand: maintaining the global regulatory regime for shipping and ensuring there is support for all Member States who need it, to enhance their capabilities to implement IMO standards effectively. Interview: Michael Meyer Successor to Kitack Lim Arsenio Antonio Dominguez Velasco has been the new Secretary- General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) since the beginning of 2024. In July 2023, he was nominated for the IMO9s highest office by the UN organisation9s Council. The shipping diplomat from Panama was subsequently elected by the IMO General Assembly. His first fouryear term of office began on January 1. Dominguez succeeds Kitack Lim from Korea, who has led the IMO for two terms since 2016. The new Secretary-General joined the IMO in 2017 from the Panama Maritime Authority. There, he most recently headed the Marine Environment Department. He prevailed over a number of other candidates, including Moin Uddin Ahmed from Bangladesh, Suat Hayri Aka from Turkey, the former head of the World Maritime University (WMU) Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry from Dominica, Nancy Karigithu from Kenya, Minna Kivimäki from Finland and Zhang Xiaojie from China. 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