Thirty-fourth regular session of the Assembly will approve 2026-2027 work programme and budget.

Elections map of the Assembly of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) will meet for its 34th regular session from 24 November to 3 December 2025, to elect Members of the IMO Council and approve the Organization’s work programme and budget. 
The Assembly is the highest Governing Body of the IMO, consisting of all Member States. The Assembly session will be preceded by the 135th session of the IMO Council (19-21 November).  

Election of Council 

The Assembly, which meets every two years in regular sessions, elects the forty Members of the Council. The Council is the Executive Organ of IMO and is responsible, under the Assembly, for supervising the work of the Organization.  

A new 40-Member IMO Council for the 2026-2027 biennium will be elected, including: 

• Category (a): 10 States with the largest interest in providing international shipping services  
   
• Category (b): 10 States with the largest interest in international seaborne trade
• Category (c): 20 States not elected under (a) or (b) above, which have special interests in maritime transport or navigation, to ensure representation of all major geographic areas of the world. 

The candidates for the election are listed here. The election will take place on Friday 28 November, with an in-person, secret ballot.  The newly elected Council will meet on 4 December (for the Council’s 136th session) and will elect its Chair and Vice-Chair.     

 Related : IMO Assembly to elect new Council and approve 2026-2027 work programme

Strategic plan, budget and work programme    

The Assembly is expected to adopt the revised Strategic Plan for the six-year period 2024 to 2029 and the Organization's budget and work programme for 2026 and 2027.    

The Assembly will adopt several resolutions on key aspects of the Organization's work, including those covering:     

• IMO Capacity Development Strategy    
• Procedures for port State control, 2025    
• Survey Guidelines under the Harmonized System of Survey and Certification (HSSC), 2025   
• 2025 Non-exhaustive list of obligations under instruments relevant to the IMO Instruments Implementation Code (III Code)   
• Framework and procedures for the IMO Member State Audit Scheme   
• Code on Alerts and Indicators, 2025   
• Criteria for the provision of mobile satellite communication systems in the global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS)   
• Charges for distress, urgency and safety communications through recognized mobile satellite services in the GMDSS   
• Consolidated Text of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization   
• Progressive use of Arabic as a working language of the Organization      
• Criteria and procedures for live streaming to the public of IMO Assembly plenary meetings   
• Rules of Procedure of the Assembly   
• Relations with non-governmental organizations   

Follow online 

Plenary sessions will be livestreamed on IMO's Youtube Channel. The election of the Council will be held in person, via secret ballot and will not be livestreamed. Results will be shared via IMO on X and on the IMO website.  
The Assembly, at its thirty-fourth session, will elect 40 Members of the Council as provided for in Articles 16 and 17 of the IMO Convention.

Total number of candidatures received to date: 

The Assembly, at its thirty-fourth session, will elect 40 Members of the Council as provided for in Articles 16 and 17 of the IMO Convention.

Total number of candidatures received to date: 
Category (a): 11Category (b): 11Category (c): 26

Category (a): 10 States with the largest interest in providing international shipping services (listed in alphabetical order):
China , Greece , Italy , Japan , Liberia , Norway, Panama , Republic of Korea , Russian Federation , United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland , United States of America

Category (b): 10 States with the largest interest in international seaborne trade:
Argentina , Australia , Brazil , Canada , France , Germany, India ,Netherlands (Kingdom of the) , Spain ,Sweden , United Arab Emirates

Category (c): 20 States not elected under (a) or (b) above which have special interests in maritime transport or navigation, and whose election to the Council will ensure the representation of all major geographic areas of the world:
Bahamas , Bangladesh ,Belgium , Chile ,Cyprus ,Denmark ,Egypt , Finland ,Indonesia ,Jamaica ,Malaysia ,Malta ,Mexico ,Morocco , Nigeria ,Oman , Pakistan ,Peru ,Philippines , Qatar , Saudi Arabia ,Singapore ,South Africa ,Thailand ,Türkiye

The current Council Members elected at IMO Assembly (27 November-6 December 2023) for the 2024-2025 biennium:
Category (a): 10 States with the largest interest in providing international shipping services (listed in alphabetical order)

China , Greece ,Italy, Japan , Liberia , Norway ,Panama ,Republic of Korea , United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland , United States

Category (b): 10 States with the largest interest in international seaborne trade:

Australia , Brazil , Canada , France ,Germany , India , Netherlands (Kingdom of the) , Spain , Sweden , United Arab Emirates
Category (c): 20 States not elected under (a) or (b) above which have special interests in maritime transport or navigation, and whose election to the Council will ensure the representation of all major geographic areas of the world:

Bahamas , Bangladesh , Chile ,Cyprus ,Denmark, Egypt , Finland, Indonesia , Jamaica , Kenya ,Malaysia ,Malta, Mexico ,Morocco ,Peru , Philippines , Qatar ,Saudi Arabia  ,Singapore ,Türkiye

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