IMO Secretary-General Urges Global Enforcement of Maritime Safety and Environmental Rules under 2026-2027 World Maritime Day Theme
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has launched a two-year global campaign for the 2026-2027 World Maritime Day theme, “From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence,” with a strong call for the worldwide implementation of maritime safety and environmental standards. Announcing the initiative, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez emphasized that the organization’s global regulatory framework must not only be adopted in principle but fully implemented to deliver concrete, real-world results across the shipping industry.
In a video message marking the launch, Dominguez highlighted that effective implementation of IMO conventions directly impacts people across the maritime sector, including seafarers, port workers, ship managers, ship recycling workers, port State control officers and flag State administrators. He stated that building a truly sustainable maritime industry requires ensuring that high standards are applied consistently in every port and on every vessel worldwide, without selective or uneven enforcement. He reaffirmed IMO’s commitment to supporting Member States through technical cooperation and direct assistance to strengthen implementation.
IMO’s international conventions, codes and guidelines are designed to ensure ships operate safely, efficiently and in an environmentally responsible manner. These regulations are most effective when Member States adopt and enforce them consistently. However, audits conducted under the IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS) have revealed gaps in national legislation and enforcement in some countries, which can weaken regulatory systems and increase the risk of noncompliance and unsafe shipping practices.
To address these enforcement gaps, the 2026-2027 campaign aims to help Member States deepen their understanding of IMO instruments and enhance their capacity to implement and enforce maritime regulations at the national level. The initiative is structured around nine key pillars, including capacity development and technical cooperation to strengthen legal frameworks and training; tailored support for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs); translating new safety standards on alternative fuels, automation and digitalization into operational practice; and preparing States for safe and consistent implementation of the IMO Strategy on the Reduction of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions.
The campaign also focuses on combating fraudulent ship registration and maritime fraud through improved transparency and data-sharing, promoting audit-driven reforms based on IMSAS findings, advancing digitalization and Maritime Single Windows in port operations, strengthening cybersecurity and maritime security systems, and implementing environmental measures addressing plastics, underwater radiated noise, invasive species and ship recycling beyond GHG regulations.
The IMO Secretariat will implement a two-year action plan that includes global events, outreach activities, knowledge-sharing initiatives, partnership programmes and social media engagement to promote the World Maritime Day theme. Member States and observer organizations are encouraged to organize related activities during 2026 and 2027 .
Reflecting on IMO’s nearly 80-year legacy and more than 50 international conventions shaping global shipping, Dominguez stated that the true value of these instruments lies in their effective application on board ships, in ports and throughout the maritime domain. He urged the global maritime community to move beyond discussions and ensure that international policies are translated into measurable action, calling for a decisive shift from policy to practice to strengthen maritime safety, environmental protection and sustainable shipping worldwide.
