The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has launched a two-year global initiative under the World Maritime Day 2026–2027 theme “From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence”, aiming to translate international maritime regulations into tangible results.
The campaign calls on Member States and industry stakeholders to strengthen implementation, close enforcement gaps and ensure high standards are consistently applied across the global maritime sector.
In a video message marking the launch, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez stressed that the global regulatory framework developed by IMO must not merely be adopted in principle, but translated into concrete actions and real-world results that deliver tangible benefits for all.
When we talk about ‘practice’, we are talking about people. The seafarers on the ship; the people in the port; those managing ship operations, ship recycling workers, port State control officers and flag State administrators.
…Arsenio Dominguez highlighted.
“To make the maritime industry truly sustainable, we must ensure these high standards are felt in every port and on every deck – not selectively, not unevenly, but globally. IMO is committed to powering this transition through technical cooperation and direct support,” Dominguez further noted.
This theme reflects our mission: ensuring that the global regulatory framework we develop is not merely adopted in principle, but translated into concrete actions and real-world results that deliver tangible benefits for all.
…Arsenio Dominguez notes.
Closing the enforcement gap
IMO’s global framework of maritime conventions, codes and guidelines help to ensure ships operate and trade safely, efficiently and smoothly while protecting the marine environment. The framework is most effective when Member States adopt and implement IMO rules widely and consistently.
However, audits conducted under the IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS) have found gaps in national laws and enforcement in some countries. Those gaps weaken regulations and increase the risk of noncompliance and unsafe shipping.
