Liberia has secured a seat in Category ‘A’ of the IMO Council following an election at the 33rd Assembly session of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London.
The win marks a significant achievement for the West African nation, which now joins the ranks of the ten Member States overseeing the executive functions of the organization for the next biennium (2024-2025).
The IMO Council, comprised of 40 Members, is the executive arm of the organization, and Category ‘A’ consists of countries with the largest interest in providing international shipping services. Liberia, with its impressive 14 percent share of the world’s oceangoing fleet, totaling over 5,000 vessels, fittingly falls into this top-tier category.
The country’s success holds particular historical weight for she which last occupied a Category ‘A’ seat in 1995. The intervening years saw the country facing challenges, including protracted civil wars that led to its loss of the coveted position.
Despite two unsuccessful attempts in 2007 and 2009, Liberia redirected its efforts, successfully securing Category ‘C’ in 2011, only to lose it in 2019.
The Liberia Maritime Authority, noting the country’s substantial contributions to the maritime industry, strategically decided to vie for the Category ‘A’ seat in 2020. This decision aligns with Liberia’s recent achievement in reclaiming the title of the world’s largest shipping registry.
Maritime Commissioner Lenn Eugene Nagbe emphasized the significance of Liberia’s new role, describing it as a great opportunity for the entire African continent. He outlined the nation’s commitment to using its position to advocate for maritime safety and security, with a focus on combating transnational crimes, such as armed robbery, particularly in the Gulf of Guinea.
Commissioner Nagbe, who led Liberia’s delegation to the 33rd Assembly, underscored the country’s historical involvement in IMO functions, including contributing to the drafting and sponsoring of crucial regulations. He highlighted Liberia’s pivotal role in the adoption of the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy, chaired by Liberia during the 80th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee in July.
“This is a historic achievement, which is a culmination of many years of professional work; getting to the top is difficult, but remaining at the top is a more difficult challenge,” Commissioner Nagbe remarked, expressing Liberia’s commitment to sustaining its influential position in the global maritime landscape.
