- Finley was nominated for his contributions to IMO in 1995.
- IMO Secretary-General praised Finley’s dedication and insight.
- Finley thanked colleagues, reflecting on his 63-year maritime career.
Captain Ian Finley, Permanent Representative of the Cook Islands, was awarded the International Maritime Prize for 2023 at the IMO Awards Ceremony in London on December 2, 2024. The ceremony was held during the session of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 109) from December 2 to 6, 2024, reports IMO.
Contributions of Captain Finley to IMO and Maritime Safety
Captain Finley was proposed for the award by the Government of the Cook Islands. He was a member of the IMO, representative of Panama, and, subsequently, representative of the Cook Islands and has had an active involvement in shaping major safety, environmental and legal measures taken by the Organization since 1995.
Recognition of a Lifelong Commitment to Maritime Advancement
“His passion for the maritime community and his unwavering dedication to advancing its goals have made him an invaluable presence. There have been few IMO meetings in the past three decades which have not benefitted from his insight and wisdom,” Secretary-General Dominguez said.
Captain Finley Reflects on His Maritime Career
Accepting the Prize, Captain Finley said, “I am truly grateful, yet I see this Prize as a recognition of the work and commitment of so many who I have worked with over the past three decades.”
He reflected on his 63 years in ships and shipping: “From the river of my birth to the lands where corals lie, all gone in what seems just a turn of the tide; Triumph and tragedy, despair and elation, endings but always new horizons; regrets, none to dwell on, what an Odyssey, what a life!”
Statement from the Government of the Cook Islands
In its statement supporting his nomination for the Prize, the Government of the Cook Islands cited Captain Finley’s longstanding work as a delegate to IMO for more than three decades. He is “a stalwart of Diplomatic Conferences, always striving for consensus and, when necessary, helping to facilitate the compromises required”. He is an ex-mariner with “an understanding of and empathy for the challenges that continue to be faced by seafarers and the obligations of all to ensure their training, safety and wellbeing”. He has “championed the cause of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS), promoting enhanced technical cooperation and capacity building”.
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Source: IMO
