- The IMO Council finalized the revised Strategic Plan for 2024–2029, agreed on the 2026–2027 budget outline, and endorsed key governance and procedural reforms.
- The Council reviewed financial performance, made progress on multilingualism and data systems, and advanced work on global maritime safety and regulatory consistency.
- Multiple draft resolutions and reports were prepared for submission to the upcoming IMO Assembly session (A 34) in November 2025.
The Council approved the revised Strategic Plan for 2024–2029, including its mission and vision statements, strategic directions, and performance indicators. A draft resolution was also approved to ensure consistent application of the plan across all IMO bodies. These documents will be submitted for adoption at the IMO Assembly in November 2025.
In addition, the Council agreed to transition the reporting structure to an annual format and approved the draft IMO Annual Report for 2024.
Budget Planning and Financial Reports
The Council gave in-principle approval for the 2026–2027 budget, totaling £86.88 million, with a split of £43.17 million for 2026 and £43.71 million for 2027. Of this, £76.3 million will be financed through Member State contributions. The staffing complement remains at 270 posts.
Financial reports for 2024 showed revenue of £75.72 million, up £7.39 million from 2023. A 97.96% collection rate of Member State contributions was noted. The Council welcomed the unqualified audit opinion and forwarded the financial reports to the Assembly.
Member Contributions and Incentive Scheme
As of 31 May 2025, 70.7% of assessed contributions for the year had been received, an improvement over previous years. A resolution was approved to improve the Contributions Incentive Scheme, aimed at encouraging timely payments from Member States.
Upgrades to IMO Systems and Multilingual Access
Progress was reported on enhancements to the Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS). Technical recommendations for future upgrades have been outlined, and additional staffing was proposed to manage this modernization effort.
Efforts to expand multilingual accessibility were highlighted. The Council discussed proposals to strengthen Arabic as a working language and requested further analysis of cost and feasibility for consideration at the next Council session.
Legal and Procedural Reforms
The Council approved a consolidated text of the IMO Convention in all six official UN languages. Amendments adopted in 2021, which recognize Arabic, Chinese, and Russian as authentic languages of the Convention, are still pending formal entry into force.
Changes were also made to the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure to support hybrid participation and livestreaming, while safeguarding confidentiality during specific discussions, including voting or appointments.
Streamlining of IMO Number Scheme and Tonnage Assessment
Two draft resolutions were reviewed: one integrates identification schemes for ships and companies to ensure consistency, and another updates methods for ship tonnage calculation to improve cost-sharing accuracy. These will be revised and submitted for approval at the next Council session.
IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS)
A revised audit schedule was endorsed, including rescheduled audits for several countries and adjustments to the second audit cycle framework. The Council supported the release of audit reports by Member States and approved updated procedures for the IMSAS framework.
IMO Conventions and Treaty Ratification
The Council approved a resolution urging acceptance of the 2021 amendments to the IMO Convention. To date, 32 of the required 117 Member States have ratified them. Continued support was expressed for early ratification of the 2010 HNS Protocol and the 2012 Cape Town Agreement.
External Engagement and Intergovernmental Cooperation
The IMO will join the World Customs Organization’s Contact Committee to participate in work on harmonizing passenger information data sharing. The Facilitation Committee will monitor and act on relevant recommendations.
Non-Governmental Organization Consultative Status
The Council granted consultative status to several organizations, including those working in seafaring welfare, shipbuilding, and environmental protection. Provisional consultative status was granted to groups focused on ethanol fuel, waterborne transport, and marine debris cleanup. Some groups had their provisional status upgraded to full.
The Council decided against charging consultative fees to non-governmental organizations.
World Maritime Day and IMO Awards
The Council endorsed the 2026–2027 World Maritime Day theme: “From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence.” The Parallel Events will be held in the UAE (2025), Korea (2026), and the Philippines (2027).
The 2025 IMO Awards Ceremony will take place on 24 November at IMO Headquarters. Mr. Lee Tae-young will receive the Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea, and Dr. Rosalie Balkin has been selected for the 2024 International Maritime Prize.
Upcoming Council Sessions
The 135th Council session will be held from 19 to 21 November 2025, immediately before the 34th Assembly (24 November to 3 December 2025). The 136th session will follow on 4 December 2025.
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Source: International Maritime Organization
