Council, 135th session (C 135), 19 to 21 November, 2025
The 135th session of the Council was held in person at the IMO Headquarters, supported by hybrid facilities for remote participation, from Wednesday, 19 November to Friday, 21 November 2025. The session was chaired by Mr. Victor Jiménez of Spain, with Ms. Amane Fethallah of Morocco as Vice-Chair.
IMO Gender Equality Award
The Council awarded the 2026 IMO Gender Equality Award to Professor Momoko Kitada, nominated by Japan, for her leadership in advancing gender equality, extending beyond her academic role at the World Maritime University and her influence upon generations of students and their respective Administrations and institutions.
The Council decided that Letters of Commendation be awarded to the following nominees, in recognition of their efforts to advance gender equality in the maritime sector: Mr. Marcos Tinti of Brazil; Ms. Mariana Pescatori Candido da Silva of Brazil; Ms. Eleni Polychronopoulou of Greece; Commodore Christine Pauline Bergaño-Diciano, of the Philippines; Ms. Elisa D. Chomi of the Philippines; Rear Admiral Mitzie Silva-Campo, of the Philippines; and Ms. Christine Duffy, nominated by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).
Draft resolutions approved
The Council approved proposed draft Assembly resolutions, for submission to the 34th session of the Assembly (A 34), on:
- Results-based budget for the 2026-2027 biennium
- Enhancement of multilingualism at IMO
- Integrated IMO identification number scheme
- Apportionment of expenses among Member States
- Arrears of contributions
Results-based budget for 2026-2027
The Council approved the revised results-based regular budget proposal for the 2026-2027 biennium, for submission to the Assembly (A 34). The budget proposal of £87,427,000, comprises an appropriation of £43,367,000 for 2026 and an appropriation of £44,060,000 for 2027.
The Council approved the proposal to the Assembly that the updated results-based budget be financed by assessments upon Member States of £76,835,000, comprising an assessment of £38,081,000 for 2026 and £38,754,000 for 2027.
Enhancement of multilingualism
The Council approved amendments to the current rule 28 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly to include Arabic as a working language of the Assembly. The amendments will be submitted to A 34 with a view to adoption.
The Committee requested that the relevant provisions be included in the budget proposal for the biennium to enable the inclusion of Arabic as a working language for the thirty-fifth session of the Assembly.
Integrated IMO Number Scheme
The Council approved the harmonization of the regulatory framework for the IMO ship identification number scheme, and the IMO unique company and registered owner identification number scheme and tonnage assessment calculation.
The IMO Number Scheme assigns each ship a permanent, unique seven-digit IMO number that stays with the vessel for its entire life, even if it changes name, owner, or flag. It aims to enhance maritime safety and prevent maritime fraud.
The IMO Shipowner/Company Identification Number Scheme assigns permanent, unique IMO numbers to shipowners and operating companies, used in certificates and compliance systems. This helps identify who is responsible for operating or owning ships.
The draft resolution to be submitted to Assembly (A 34), merges the two systems into a single integrated scheme to improve efficiency and consistency.
Member State contributions
The Council noted that, as at 31 October 2025, 97.35% of the current year's assessed contributions had been received from Member States, compared to 96.49% in 2024 and 83.42% in 2023 as at the same period.
Of the 176 Member States and three Associate Members included in the Notice of Assessment, 130 had made full payment of their 2025 assessment, 32 had made partial payment and 17 had made no payment.
The Council urged all Member States that had not yet done so to meet in full their financial obligations to the Organization as early as possible and reiterated its firm stance on the strict enforcement of Article 61 of the IMO Convention.
Application of the Strategic Plan of the Organization
The Council noted the status of outputs for the 2024-2025 biennium, as approved by the Assembly in resolution A.1173(33), including new outputs approved by the relevant IMO organs since the adoption of that resolution.
Across the 2024–2025 biennium, 161 outputs were tracked. Sixty-six were officially completed, but when recurring annual outputs delivered in both years are included, the total number of completed outputs rises to 88. All outputs scheduled for completion in each target year were fully delivered: all 16 due in 2024, all 24 due in 2025, and all 22 annual outputs implemented in both years.
Financial reports
The Council noted the review of the Organization’s budget performance and outlook for the remaining months of 2025, reflecting actual results for the year to 30 September 2025. The Council noted the Secretary-General's conclusion that expenditure for 2025 can be contained within the budgets approved for all funds. An updated review of budgetary prospects will be presented to the next session of the Council.
Report on the Status of Conventions
The Council noted that several IMO conventions and instruments have not yet met the conditions for entry into force. These include the 2021 Amendments to the IMO Convention; the 2010 HNS Protocol; and the 2012 Cape Town Agreement.
Amendments to other IMO instruments that require explicit acceptance include: 2008 amendments to the IMSO Convention; 2009 amendment to the London Protocol; and 2013 amendments to the London Protocol.
The Council expressed its support for ongoing efforts by Member States and the Secretariat to bring them into force at the earliest opportunity.
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