The Assembly of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the Organization’s highest Governing Body, will hold its 34th regular session from Monday, 24 November, to Wednesday, 3 December 2025, at IMO Headquarters in London. This pivotal session will determine the future leadership and strategic priorities of the Organization, including the election of the 40 Members of the IMO Council and the approval of the Organization’s work programme and budget for the 2026-2027 biennium.
The session will be immediately preceded by the 135th session of the IMO Council, scheduled for 19-21 November 2025.
A primary focus of the Assembly will be the election of the new 40-Member Council, which serves as the Executive Organ responsible for supervising the work of the Organization under the Assembly’s direction.
The election is scheduled for Friday, 28 November, and will be conducted by an in-person, secret ballot. The 40 Members for the 2026-2027 biennium will be elected across three categories to ensure equitable global representation:
- Category (a): 10 States with the largest interest in providing international shipping services.
- Category (b): 10 States with the largest interest in international seaborne trade.
- Category (c): 20 States with special interests in maritime transport or navigation, ensuring representation of all major geographic areas.
The newly elected Council will convene for its 136th session on 4 December 2025, to elect its Chair and Vice-Chair.
The Assembly is expected to adopt key institutional documents that will guide the Organization’s direction and operations:
- Revised Strategic Plan (2024–2029): Adoption of the updated strategic priorities for the next six years.
- Budget and Work Programme (2026–2027): Approval of the financial framework and planned activities for the upcoming biennium.
Member States will consider and adopt several important resolutions addressing fundamental aspects of the global maritime framework, aimed at enhancing safety, security, and environmental stewardship across the industry. Key resolutions include those covering:
- The IMO Capacity Development Strategy.
- Revised Procedures for Port State Control, 2025.
- Updates to the Survey Guidelines under the Harmonized System of Survey and Certification (HSSC), 2025.
- The Framework and Procedures for the IMO Member State Audit Scheme.
- Updates to the Code on Alerts and Indicators, 2025.
- Criteria for the provision of mobile satellite communication systems in the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS).
- The progressive use of Arabic as a working language of the Organization.
The Assembly session will commence with the annual IMO Awards Ceremony on the evening of the first day, Monday, 24 November, starting at 5:00 p.m. at IMO Headquarters. The event will feature the presentation of the International Maritime Prize for 2024 and the 2025 IMO Honours for Exceptional Bravery at Sea.
