IMO Assembly to elect new Council and set strategic directions

The IMO Assembly is open to all 176 Member States and three Associate Members. Observers from accredited organizations also attend.

The Assembly of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) will meet for its 34th regular session from 24 November to 3 December 2025, to elect Members of the IMO Council and approve the Organization’s work programme and budget. 

The Assembly is the highest Governing Body of the IMO, consisting of all Member States. The Assembly session will be preceded by the 135th session of the IMO Council (19-21 November).  

Election of Council 

The Assembly, which meets every two years in regular sessions, elects the forty Members of the Council. The Council is the Executive Organ of IMO and is responsible, under the Assembly, for supervising the work of the Organization.  

A new 40-Member IMO Council for the 2026-2027 biennium will be elected, including: 

• Category (a): 10 States with the largest interest in providing international shipping services  
• Category (b): 10 States with the largest interest in international seaborne trade
• Category (c): 20 States not elected under (a) or (b) above, which have special interests in maritime transport or navigation, to ensure representation of all major geographic areas of the world. 

The candidates for the election are listed here. The election will take place on Friday 28 November, with an in-person, secret ballot.  

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