Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 110) - Opening remarks

ADDRESS OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL AT THE OPENING OF THE 110TH SESSION OF THE MARITIME SAFETY COMMITTEE (MSC 110), 18 to 27 June 2025

Delivered by IMO Secretary-General Mr. Arsenio Dominguez

Good morning distinguished delegates, 

Welcome to the 110th session of the Maritime Safety Committee.

Unfortunately, I have to start by highlighting some recent maritime incidents. I would like to begin by acknowledging the improvement of the situation of the ships that were previously blocked in the port of Ras Isa in Yemen. I would also like to thank the Indian and Omani authorities for their tremendous assistance in facilitating this outcome.

I wish to express my sadness at the reports of four seafarers unaccounted for in the accident involving the MV Wan Hai 503. The Organization will continue to monitor the situation and the environmental impact closely. I would like to thank the Indian authorities for keeping me informed of developments.

On 25 May 2025, the MSC ELSA 3 sank off the coast of Kochi, India. All 24 crew members were safely rescued. The Organization will continue to monitor the follow-up and lessons learned from this incident. I would like to thank the Indian and Sri Lankan authorities for their swift response and ongoing efforts and to ITOPF for providing relevant updates.

On 3 June 2025, a fire incident occurred on the Liberian-flagged car carrier Morning Midas in the Pacific Ocean. The fire aboard the Morning Midas started in the cargo space and despite the crew’s efforts, the situation could not be brought under control. Fortunately, all the 22 crew members were safely evacuated and transferred to a nearby ship. The Organization will continue to monitor the follow-up and lessons learned from this incident.

And just yesterday, the UAE Coast Guard successfully evacuated 24 crew members from the oil tanker ADALYNN following a collision with the VLCC, Front Eagle, off Khor Fakkan, UAE. The incident resulted in a massive fire. Fortunately, all crew members were accounted for, and firefighting efforts are ongoing.

Given the increasing number of recent incidents, I wish to urge all Member States and the maritime industry to:

• improve compliance with IMO international standards; 

• exercise enhanced vigilance and navigational safety;

• ensure emergency preparedness and rapid response capabilities; and

• strengthen cooperation and information sharing to safeguard seafarers, vessels, and marine environment.

I confirm that we will closely monitor these incidents and the investigations into them, and I am confident that the Organization will, in due course, analyze the lessons learned from these events.

I wish to take this opportunity to take a moment to extend my heartfelt condolences following the tragic loss of life in the recent Air India flight bound for the United Kingdom. Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the victims during this immensely difficult time.

I wish to highlight growing threats that we face as a global maritime community from piracy and armed robbery at sea, organized crime such as smuggling of weapons, drugs and people. These challenges transcend national jurisdictions and undermine regional stability. IMO will action further, such as hosting civil-military meetings, and call for full implementation of the newly updated Best Management Practices for Maritime Security.

As regards the work ahead of you this week, your Committee has many important items on the agenda, in addition to adoption of mandatory instruments.

The work on Maritime autonomous surface ships (MASS) began yesterday, with the MASS Symposium, co-organized with Norway, has set the scene and inspiration for the work ahead. I look forward to further development of a non-mandatory MASS Code as planned, which has seen exemplary work. 

You will continue developing the assessment of identified alternative fuels and technologies, examining safety obstacles and gaps in the current IMO instruments, in order to provide clear instructions to relevant sub-committees to prepare new instruments or amend existing ones in support of the safe delivery of IMO’s GHG reduction strategy.

The Committee will consider the next steps on the development of cybersecurity standards for ships and port facilities to address the security challenges due to increasing maritime sector digitalization. 

The Committee will consider matters related to the International Safety Management Code, including the outcome of the considerations on violence and harassment by the Joint ILO/IMO Working Group, and recommendations emanating from the Study on the effectiveness and effective implementation of the ISM Code.

On the ongoing comprehensive review of the STCW Convention and Code, given the particular relevance of this work, the Committee will be invited to consider a road map prepared by the Secretariat, as an alternative to the road map developed by the HTW Sub-Committee, aiming at accelerating completion of this crucial output.

As a one of my key priorities, the well-being of seafarers and their protection against criminalization is a critical issue and a joint effort within the maritime community. This joint effort was reflected in the event co-organized by IMO and ILO in cooperation with ICS and ITF, which was held here in the IMO Headquarters on Monday. The purpose of this event was to hear directly from those who experienced first hand from those affected and understand more accurately the challenges we are facing and the challenges seafarers are facing. 

While you have a heavy workload related to maritime safety and security, I am confident that your Committee will progress under the capable leadership of your Chair, Mrs. Mayte Medina of the United States, ably supported by the Vice-Chair, Capt. Mozas of Greece. With the Secretariat support of Maritime Safety Division and other divisions, I have no doubt you will be able to successfully achieve the objectives set for this session.

25 June is the International day of the Seafarer with this year’s theme “My Harassment-Free ship”. I invite you to view the moving and impactful photos from the ITF Seafarers’ Trust’s photo archive ‘Life at Sea’ in the Delegates' Lounge.

I invite you all to join the welcome reception after the close of today's business.

Thank you.