IMO names regional coordinators to strengthen field support

IMO The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has named the full team of regional coordinators who will lead its seven regional presence offices, as the UN agency looks to bring more technical support closer to member states. The coordinators will cover the Caribbean, East Asia, Eastern and Southern Africa, Middle East and North Africa, the Pacific, Anglophone West and Central Africa, and Francophone West and Central Africa. IMO said the offices are designed to ensure support is better aligned with the needs of individual regions, including tailored assistance for least developed countries and small island developing states. The move forms part of a wider update to IMO’s technical cooperation work. Regional coordinators will now oversee IMO activity across 11 thematic areas, including maritime safety, security, marine environment, climate action, facilitation and trade, law and governance, gender equality, education and training, and compliance under the IMO member state audit scheme. Sam Chambers Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune. Read Next July 7, 2026 EU antitrust law and the China trade question July 6, 2026 France fines shadow fleet tanker owner over false flag July 1, 2026 UK carbon market extends to shipping from today June 26, 2026 France boards another Russian shadow fleet tanker off Sicily June 26, 2026 Carbon pricing is becoming a compliance maze Back to top button