IMO elects new secretary general

The appointment is subject to approval by IMO’s Assembly, and, if appointed, Mr Donguez will begin his tenure beginning on 1 January 2024, taking over from outgoing IMO Secretary General Kitack Lim.

Mr Lim has served as IMO Secretary General two four year terms, beginning on 1 January 2016. He is the ninth elected Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation.

Shipping trade body International Chamber of Shipping Secretary General Guy Platten bade farewell to Mr Lim while welcoming Mr Dominguez.

"It has been a great pleasure and privilege to work with Kitack Lim over the past eight years. [Mr Lim] steered the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) successfully through challenging times, calmly and with direction, and everyone at the International Chamber of Shipping wishes [Mr Lim] every success in his future endeavours. We look forward to working with Mr Arsenio Dominguez, and know that Mr Dominguez will lead with equal measures of authority, purpose and compassion. The position of IMO Secretary General is not an easy one, and there are undoubtedly challenges ahead as the industry strives to meet the 2030, 2040 and 2050 targets, but it will be a pleasure to tackle these challenges head on with Mr Dominguez for a better and safer future for our industry and its people," Mr Platten said.

Mr Dominguez currently serves as director, marine environment division of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), having served previously as director, administrative division and chief of staff. Prior to joining IMO in July 2017, Mr Dominguez worked for the Panama Maritime Authority, starting in 1998 as head of the regional technical and documentation office, and as alternate representative and technical adviser of Panama to IMO from 2004 to 2014. In July 2014, he was appointed as ambassador and permanent representative of Panama to IMO.

From 1998 to 2017, Mr Dominguez represented Panama at IMO, as well as at the International Labour Organisation, the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds and the International Mobile Satellite Organisation. He also represented Panama at several shipping conferences, exhibitions, seminars and workshops. 

Having chaired a number of meetings at international organisations, Mr Dominguez served as chair of IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee from 2014 to 2017, having previously served as vice-chair from 2012 to 2013. He also served as chair of the Technical Committee at the 29th IMO Assembly in 2015, chair of IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee Working Group on Maritime Security and Piracy from 2010 to 2014, and as vice-chair of the Subcommittee of Dangerous Goods, Solid Cargoes and Containers from 2009 to 2011.

Mr Dominguez holds a naval architect degree from Veracruzana University, Mexico. He also obtained a MBA in management at University of Hull and a certificate of higher education in international law and European politics from Birkbeck University, both in London, England.