IMO Council Recommends Second Term for Arsenio Domínguez
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The Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) recommended a second four-year term for Secretary-General Arsenio Domínguez, which would run from 1 January 2028 to 31 December 2031. The decision was made during the 138th session of the Council, held in London from 2 to 6 November 2026, and still needs to be ratified by the IMO Assembly.
Domínguez, a Panamanian national, took office in January 2024 after being elected in July 2023, for a first term due to expire at the end of 2027. According to TradeWinds, Domínguez himself stated he had 'unfinished business' on decarbonization, a topic that tops his agenda for a potential second term at the helm of the organization.
Pending Regulatory Agenda
If confirmed, the new term would place Domínguez at the center of discussions on the IMO's Net-Zero Framework, a global emissions reduction mechanism that includes a marine fuel standard and an economic scheme tied to greenhouse gases. According to Xinde Marine News, differences among member states over its implementation and cost-sharing led to the postponement of its adoption in October 2025, with new negotiations scheduled for late November and early December 2026.
China's Role in the Transition
During a recent visit to China, Domínguez highlighted the country's investments in new technologies and alternative fuels, according to Xinde Marine News. Speaking to Xinhua on 2 November, he particularly praised Shanghai's efforts to convert waste into green methanol and mentioned developments related to ammonia, hydrogen, methanol and ethanol, in a context where Chinese shipyards, fuel producers and ports are advancing jointly.
Maritime Security on the Agenda
Addressing the IMO Council on 2 November, Domínguez also pointed to the threats facing commercial shipping and seafarers in areas such as the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb, the Eastern Mediterranean, the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, in addition to expressing concern over piracy and armed robbery in the western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden, according to Xinde Marine News.
