PREVIEW: IMO Assembly, 34th session, 24 November – 3 December 2025 

The IMO Assembly will meet from 24 November to 3 December 2025 for its 34th regular session.  

The Assembly is the highest Governing Body of the Organization. It consists of all Member States and meets once every two years in regular sessions, but may also meet in an extraordinary session, if necessary.   

The Assembly is open to all 176 IMO Member States and three Associate Members. It will also be attended by observers from intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations.   

The Assembly is responsible for approving the work programme, the budget, and determining the financial arrangements of the Organization.   

The Assembly elects the forty Members of the Council.    

In addition, the Assembly adopts certain resolutions emanating from the five IMO Committees and endorses actions of the Council with respect to the admission of new intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations as observers.    

The 34th session of the Assembly will be preceded by the 135th session of the Council on 19-21 November.  

Assembly 34 Opening 

The opening session will be held from 11.30 am on Monday, 24 November. The Assembly will elect a President and Vice-Presidents for the next biennium.    

Following the opening, IMO Member States will be invited to give general statements. 

IMO Awards Ceremony 

IMO will host the IMO Awards Ceremony on the evening of the first day of the Assembly, 24 November from 5.00pm. The event will be held at IMO Headquarters in London, and will include the presentation of: 

  • International Maritime Prize for 2024  
  • 2025 IMO Honours for Exceptional Bravery at sea  

More details here.

Key issues for A 34

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.   

Election of Council (Friday, 28 November)  

A new 40-Member IMO Council for the 2026-2027 biennium will be elected. The election will take place on Friday 28 November, with an in-person, secret ballot. The candidates for the election are listed here.  

The newly elected Council will meet on 4 December (for the Council’s 136th session) and will elect its Chair and Vice-Chair.    

Other resolutions    

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  

Arrangements  

Three Committees will be established: the Credentials Committee; Committee 1 (the Administrative, Financial, Legal and Technical Cooperation Committee); and Committee 2 (the Technical Committee).    

The provisional timetable for Assembly is available in document A 34-1-1 .   

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.

Documents  

Assembly documents can be found on IMODOCS.     

Media access    

Media and members of the public may follow plenary sessions via the livestream on the IMO's YouTube channel. For in-person attendance, please contact media@imo.org     

Frequently asked questions (FAQ) 

1. Where can I watch the Assembly?  

Media and members of the public may follow plenary sessions via the livestream on the IMO's YouTube channel.  

2. Where can I find the agenda and timetable?   

Please find the agenda and timetable in document A 34-1-1.

3. I want a recording of my country’s Minister speaking - where can I find this?   

Member State delegations may arrange to film their minister/delegate with their own camera crew.  Please contact media@imo.org and fill in this media accreditation form for any media/producer/cameraperson attending. 

Clips from the IMO’s YouTube channel livestream recordings can also be shared using the YouTube clip function.    

4. Will the voting session on Friday for the IMO Council be livestreamed?   

No, voting sessions are not livestreamed.    

5. Who are the candidates for IMO Council?  

The candidates for election are listed here.  

6. How will I find out the result of the voting for Council?    

Please follow IMO on X for the announcement of results for each round of voting. A press release will be issued on the IMO website once all results for each round have been announced.