Hadjimanolis congratulates new IMO Secretary-General Dominguez

During a closed session on 18 July, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council elected Arsenio Antonio Dominguez Velasco as the new Secretary General of the IMO, for the period 2024-2027.

In an announcement, the Shipping Deputy Minister of the Republic of Cyprus, Marina Hadjimanolis, wished Secretary General Elect Dominguez a very successful term of office.

“The Shipping Deputy Ministry of the Republic of Cyprus will continue to assist the work of the Organization in a very constructive manner and offer any possible assistance to the incoming Secretary General Elect for the very challenging issues faced by International Shipping,” Hadjimanolis' announcement added.

Dominguez started the campaign for the leadership position in December 2022 using the theme “Taking the lead, for a united and better future.” He said he aims to serve IMO by “putting people and planet first.”

Dominguez is currently serving as the director of the Marine Environment Division, a position he assumed in 2017, as well as a member of the Senior Management Committee of the IMO. He was first appointed in 2004 as the alternate representative of Panama to the IMO and starting in 2014 he was appointed Ambassador of Panama to the IMO. Velasco, who is a naval architect, has more than 25 years of professional experience in the international maritime world and is marking his twentieth year at the IMO.

Dominguez beat six other contenders from China, Turkey, Kenya, Finland, Dominica and Bangladesh in a vote and will take office on January 1, 2024, for a four-year term, subject to the approval of the IMO Assembly.

Dominguez will take the helm at a crucial time as the shipping industry grapples with challenges including pressures to speed up decarbonisation.