Legal Committee (LEG 113) - Opening remarks

ADDRESS OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL AT THE OPENING OF THE ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTEENTH SESSION OF THE LEGAL COMMITTEE (LEG 113), 13 to 17 April 2026

Delivered by IMO Secretary-General Mr. Arsenio Dominguez on 13 April, 2026

Good morning, distinguished delegates,

It is my pleasure to welcome you all to the 113th session of the Legal Committee.

The situation in the region of the Strait of Hormuz remains of grave concern. It is a concern that we all share.

Thousands of seafarers remain stranded in the Persian Gulf on board vessels exposed to significant risks and considerable psychological strain. Beyond the human toll, this situation is also disrupting international shipping, with broader consequences for the global economy and food security.

To address this urgent matter, the Council held an extraordinary session in March during which the following key principles were reaffirmed:

• the respect for the freedom of navigation; 

• the paramount importance of the safety of seafarers and shipping; 

• the conviction that seafarers and shipping must never be used as collateral victims of any geopolitical conflict; and 

• the importance of dialogue and diplomacy de-escalating tensions and restoring stability in the region. 

I have initiated work on this important matter with my team and have been engaging with relevant stakeholders. Any mechanism is being developed in line with the IMO established Traffic Separation Scheme, in place since 1968, and jointly coordinated by Oman and Iran, while fully respecting the principles of freedom of navigation and the right of innocent passage enshrined in international maritime law.

I would like to thank you for your continued support, which I highly value and appreciate. We remain committed to multilateralism and sustained dialogue, and I look forward to maintaining our engagement on this important issue for the benefit of innocent seafarers and international shipping.

Turning to the agenda for this week, your Committee has a standalone agenda item on the fair treatment of seafarers, which is highly relevant to the discussions held by the Council. This week, you will once again focus on critical issues affecting seafarers.

The Committee will also be discussing a newly added agenda item on development of guidelines or best practices on the registration of ships. I want to stress that maintaining high-quality shipping standards is of the utmost importance to ensure the compliance with the IMO's regulatory framework and its enforcement. In that regard, you have another new item in your agenda on Regulatory Scoping Exercise in connection with substandard ships. 

Further you will discuss the suitability of IMO liability and compensation regimes with respect to alternative fuels. The transition to alternative fuels is crucial for environmental sustainability and it is important to address the suitability of IMO liability and compensation regimes in this context.

With the guidance of the Chair, Mr. Diego Ramirez of Marshall Islands and Vice-Chair, Ms. Markari-Kyriacou of Cyprus, and the support of the Legal Affairs and External Relations Division together with the staff of supporting divisions, I am sure that you will be able to successfully achieve the objectives set for this session.

I wish you success in your deliberations and invite you all to the welcome reception in the Delegates' Lounge after the close of today's business.

Thank you.

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