Spain has been re-elected as a member of the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations multilateral body that regulates international maritime transport. The elections took place during the general assembly currently being held in London, which was attended by the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente. In this way, once it becomes part of the Council, Spain can present the candidacy for the presidency of the Council of the current Council President and Alternate Permanent Representative of Spain to the Organization, Víctor Jiménez, who has already held this position since 2021.
Sources from the General Directorate of the Merchant Navy have indicated that, at this time, the Spanish candidacy has already received 148 votes, only surpassed by that of India and tied with Saudi Arabia.
This election is the result of the intense work carried out by Spain in recent years within the IMO and the diplomatic efforts exerted in recent days by the Spanish delegation sent to London headed by the minister. Spain thus strengthens its position as a reference in decision-making related to the maritime transport sector at a global level and demonstrates that dedication and continuous work yield results.
At the forefront of maritime transport
Jiménez expressed his satisfaction with the support received in the Council elections and valued that the permanence in this IMO management body “will allow Spain to continue contributing its expert and accredited vision to build and promote a sustainable, agile, and resilient maritime transport during the 2026-2027 biennium, which adopts green technologies and prioritizes the energy transition, digitalization, and greater international cooperation.”
Spain will continue to be an active agent in the development of policies that reinforce the safety of maritime transport, improve the working conditions of seafarers, reduce pollution from ships, and advance towards a future of clean energy and low emissions, while promoting digitalization and revitalizing multilateral cooperation at a time full of uncertainties in which maritime transport remains the basis for guaranteeing world trade, given that more than 80% of goods transport is carried out by sea.
The Director General of the Merchant Navy, Ana Núñez, present during the voting, applauded the re-election of Spain as a member of the Council and wished Víctor Jiménez the best of luck in the elections for the presidency of the Council, which are held on December 4th. For Spain, it is essential to remain at the forefront at a time of major debates, such as the development of international strategies for the decarbonization of maritime transport, the protection of the oceans, or autonomous navigation.
In the elections held, the 40 members who will form the executive body of the organization for the next two years were chosen. Spain is integrated into category B, which groups the 10 countries with the greatest interests in international trade. Since 1973, Spain has been a member of the IMO Council and, since 2001, has maintained its position in category B. The Council also consists of a category A that includes the 10 countries with the most interests in the provision of international maritime services, and a category C, which includes 20 countries by geographical representation.
