Council, 114th session, 29 June-3 July 2015

IMO Council elects Secretary-General

The IMO Council, meeting for its 114th session, elected Mr. Ki-tack Lim (Republic of Korea) as the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), with effect from 1 January 2016, for an initial term of four years.

Mr. Lim is currently president of Busan Port Authority. He served as the Republic of Korea’s Deputy Permanent Representative to IMO from 2006 to 2009 and was Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Flag State Implementation (FSI) from 2002 to 2004.

Bravery Award to go to Aviation Survival Technician Christopher Leon (United States)
The IMO Council decided that the 2015 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea is to go to Aviation Survival Technician Christopher Leon (United States), for risking his life to save four others from a sinking ocean-going rowing boat in a dramatic rescue in the dead of night in heavy seas in the Pacific Ocean.

The Council endorsed the decision of a Panel of Judges that Mr. Leon’s actions, including staying on the sinking boat with one of its crew for more than two gruelling hours while the rescue helicopter refuelled, merited the top award.

The Council further endorsed the decision that the other two crew members of the rescue helicopter CG-6531, Lieutenant Scott Black and Aviation Maintenance Technician Michael Spraggins, should both receive a Certificate of Commendation for their part in the rescue.

The Council also decided that, of the other nominees or groups of nominees, from a total of 27 nominations, received from 10 Member States and two non-governmental organizations in consultative status with IMO, four should receive Certificates of Commendation and three should receive Letters of Commendation.

Nippon Foundation’s Sasakawa to be awarded 2014 International Maritime Prize
The Council decided to award the prestigious International Maritime Prize for 2014 to Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman of the Nippon Foundation, for his contribution to the work of IMO over many years and, in particular, his personal commitment to supporting the development of future maritime leaders and his contribution to the enhancement of safety and security in vital shipping lanes.

In particular, the Council noted Mr. Sasakawa’s long-standing dedication to maritime education and training through the initiatives of the Nippon Foundation and its unstinting support to the World Maritime University (WMU), based in Malmö, Sweden and the IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI) in Malta.