Arsenio Dominguez
Arsenio Domínguez | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Domínguez in November 2023 | |
| 10th Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization | |
| Assumed office 1 January 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Kitack Lim |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 18 November 1970 Panama City, Panama |
Arsenio Antonio Domínguez Velasco[a] (born 18 November 1970) is a Panamanian naval architect and international civil servant. Since 1 January 2024, he is serving an initial four-year term as the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a specialized agency of the United Nations.
Education
[edit]Arsenio Domínguez was born in Panama City on 18 November 1970.[1] He trained as a naval architect at the University of Veracruz in Mexico.[2][3] He also has an MBA from the University of Hull and a Certificate of Higher Education in International Law and European Politics from Birkbeck University in the UK.[4]
Career
[edit]Domínguez worked as a port engineer in Panama before becoming a Drydock Assistant Manager at the Braswell Shipyard.[5]
From 2004 to 2017, he represented Panama as technical advisor and then Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization.[6] During this time he also served as Chair of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) from 2014 to 2017.[6]
In 2017, Domínguez assumed the role of Chief of Staff in the Office of the Secretary-General at the International Maritime Organization. Subsequently, he transitioned to the positions of Director of the Administrative Division and Director of the Marine Environment Division.[6]
Domínguez was elected to be the new Secretary-General of the IMO on 18 July 2023.[7][8] In September 2023, Dominguez informed the London International Shipping Week conference that the IMO had begun reviewing the Carbon Intensity Indicator regulations for shipping.[9]
The new Secretary-General was approved by the IMO Assembly unanimously on 30 November 2023.[10]
Secretary-General
[edit]
Domínguez assumed office as the 10th Secretary-General of the IMO on 1 January 2024 and released a New Year's Message to the shipping industry.[11][12][13]
On 3 January 2024, in a speech to the United Nations Security Council, he condemned the Houthi attacks against international shipping in the Red Sea.[14][15] On 10 January, he announced a new senior leadership at the IMO.[16] On 22 January, Domínguez gave an opening address to the 10th Session of the IMO Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction (SDC), calling for the immediate release of the Galaxy Leader and its crew.[17][18] In February 2024, he called for a de-escalation of tensions which was causing the ongoing attacks in the Red Sea and stated that the IMO were working to facilitate talks on maritime security between relevant parties.[19][20]
In April 2024, at Singapore Maritime Week, Domínguez stated that the IMO was on track to reach its stated goals in reducing greenhouse emissions according to its planned timeline.[21][22] In May 2024, at the 108th session of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 108), Domínguez opened the session and highlighted the ongoing attacks on shipping and the need to protect seafarers.[23]
In September 2024, he spoke at the launch of the DNV Maritime Forecast event at SMM Hamburg.[24] He called on the maritime industry to maintain faith in the IMO as it continues to lead shipping towards requirements for decarbonisation and environmental protection.[24] Also, in September 2024, he delivered the opening remarks of the 10th session of the IMO Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers.[25] He urged that ships not be targeted because of politics as conflict endangers the lives of seafarers, as well as threaten international food security.[25]
Personal life
[edit]Domínguez enjoys playing tennis and watching horror movies.[26] He states that living near the Panama Canal and the influences of his parents were key factors that encouraged him to seek challenges from a career in the maritime industry.[26]
Notes
[edit]- ^ In this Hispanic American name, the first or paternal surname is Domínguez and the second or maternal family name is Velasco.
References
[edit]- ^ "El panameño Arsenio Domínguez será el próximo Secretario General de la OMI". Agenda Logística. 19 July 2023.
- ^ "Panama's Dominguez Elected Next IMO Secretary-General". Maritime Executive. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ "Arsenio Dominguez Elected as the next Secretary General of the IMO". Royal Institution of Naval Architects. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ "Arsenio Dominguez Confirmed as Next Secretary General". India Shipping News. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ "Arsenio Dominguez Velasco confirmed as next IMO Secretary-General". International Maritime Organization. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ a b c "Director, Marine Environment Division International Maritime Administration". World Maritime University. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ "Mr Arsenio Dominguez (Panama) elected as IMO Secretary-General". International Maritime Organization. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ "Panama's Arsenio Dominguez voted as next IMO Secretary-General". SeaTrade Maritime. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ "'We hear you loud and clear,' says incoming IMO chief as Carbon Intensity Indicator gets another public kicking". TradeWinds. Retrieved 1 December 2023.(subscription required)
- ^ "Arsenio Dominguez Velasco confirmed as next IMO Secretary-General". Safety 4 Sea. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ "2024 Message from IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez". Ship Management International. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
- ^ "Arsenio Dominguez welcomes 2024 with a vision for a sustainable maritime future". Safety 4 Sea. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
- ^ "IMO Embarks on New Era as Panama's Arsenio Dominguez Starts Leadership Role". Maritime Executive. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
- ^ "IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez condemns attacks against international shipping". Sea News. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
- ^ "Dominguez Raises Concern for Seafarers at UN Security Council". MarineLink. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
- ^ "IMO Secretary-General announces new senior team". Hellenic Shipping News. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- ^ "IMO Sec-Gen calls for immediate release of Galaxy Leader and crew". SeaTradeMaritime. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- ^ "'Release Galaxy Leader crew immediately', pleads IMO chief". TradeWinds. Retrieved 23 January 2024.(subscription required)
- ^ "Red Sea attacks: Seafarers' lives must be protected". United Nations. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ "UN maritime chief says striving 'tirelessly' to solve Red Sea Houthi attack crisis". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ "Shipping industry on track to cut emissions: IMO chief". The Straits Times. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ "IMO chief Dominguez confident on hitting 2030 emissions target". Seatrade Maritime. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ "Arsenio Dominguez: Ensuring seafarers' safety is crucial". Safety4Sea. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ a b Mandra, Jasmina Ovcina (4 September 2024). "Dominguez: Don't lose faith in IMO ‣ WorldCargo News". WorldCargo News ‣ Leading site for cargo handling industry. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
- ^ a b Kypriotaki, Anastasia (16 September 2024). "Arsenio Dominguez: Ships must not be targeted due to politics". SAFETY4SEA. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
- ^ a b "Lessons from a life in shipping: Arsenio Dominguez, secretary-general, IMO". Riviera. Retrieved 4 January 2024.