Panama’s Arsenio Dominguez and Kenya’s Nancy Karigithu have emerged as early runners in the race to become the next secretary general of the International Maritime Organization.
Karigithu’s candidature will be welcomed by those who think it is time the IMO is led by a woman for the first time since it was established in 1958.
She announced her intention to stand for secretary general at the Wista annual conference in Geneva in October.
Karigithu is principal secretary of the State Department for Shipping & Maritime at Kenya’s Ministry of Transport and special envoy for the blue economy and maritime affairs.
She was director general of the Kenya Maritime Authority for nine years and sits on the board of governors at the World Maritime University.
A regular speaker at international conferences and seminars, she was involved in setting up the Association for Women in the Maritime Sector in Eastern & Southern Africa.
Dominguez is a member of the IMO’s senior management committee, where he is director of the marine environment division. He started working with the IMO as Panama’s representative in 2004.
Dominguez said he would serve the IMO “by putting people and the planet first”.
“I believe that the IMO has incredible potential that extends beyond shipping, to society. That’s why I am committed to fulfilling my mission and vision,” he said.
Noriel Arauz, Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) administrator and Minister of Maritime Affairs, said: “We have and will always stand by the IMO and its work for the benefit of shipping, the welfare of seafarers and the environment.”
Stepping down
Panama has been shipping’s largest flag state for more than 30 years, but this is the first time it has put a candidate forward for secretary general.
Dominguez’s candidature is being sponsored by the AMP.
Current secretary general Kitack Lim will step down after completing the maximum two four-year terms at the end of December 2023.
Candidates must put their name forward by the end of March, before an election in July.
