The 34th session of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Assembly concluded in London on Wednesday, marking a decisive step toward enhancing global compliance with international maritime regulations. The Assembly, which ran from 24 November to 3 December, adopted a new Capacity Development Strategy aimed at strengthening Member States’ ability to implement IMO rules, alongside a revised six-year Strategic Plan and the Organization’s 2026-2027 budget and work programme.
In total, 22 resolutions were adopted, providing a clear strategic and financial direction for the Organization for the coming biennium.
Closing the session, IMO Secretary-General Mr. Arsenio Dominguez stated, “Everything placed before this Assembly has been achieved, adopted, or approved. You have turned ideas into action and transformed collective ambition into concrete outcomes. Your decisions this week have strengthened the governance and strategic direction of IMO.”
A central outcome of the Assembly was the adoption of the IMO Capacity Development Strategy. This framework is designed to provide robust support to all Member States—especially Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs)—in effectively implementing IMO instruments.
The strategy aims to:
Improve the effective implementation of IMO instruments.
Expand the suite of capacity-development offerings.
Enhance international and regional cooperation and partnerships.
Secure and mobilize sustainable funding and resourcing.
This support is designed to facilitate the development of strong national maritime policies that promote sustainable shipping, protect the marine environment, and boost economic growth.
The Assembly adopted the revised IMO Strategic Plan for the period 2024 to 2029. The plan outlines eight clear strategic directions (SDs) to guide the Organization’s work, including:
SD 1: Ensure implementation of IMO instruments supported by capacity development.
SD 3: Respond to climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping.
SD 6: Address the human element.
SD 7: Ensure the regulatory effectiveness of international shipping.
The plan also integrates new areas such as responding to climate change, integrating advancing technologies, and enhancing global facilitation and supply chain resilience. A uniform approach for the application of the Strategic Plan was also adopted to strengthen planning and reporting across all IMO organs.
The Assembly adopted the Organization’s budget and work programme for the 2026-2027 biennium. The budget is set at £87,427,000, with contributions from Member States amounting to £76,835,000. The financial decisions ensure the necessary resources are available to implement the revised Strategic Plan and the new Capacity Development Strategy.
