IMO Establishes New Division to Reinforce Security

Enhanced focus on maritime security in IMO Secretariat IMO Secretary-General, Efthimios E. Mitropoulos, has established a new subdivision within the IMO Secretariat’s Maritime Safety Division to reinforce the high priority given by the Organization to matters of maritime security. The new sub-division will provide a stronger focus on security matters and will address the complimentary issue of facilitation of maritime traffic, under the leadership of Nicolaos Charalambous of Cyprus, who becomes Deputy Director.

Announcing the formation of the new sub-division, Mitropoulos said that it reflected the continuing need for the Organization, and the maritime world as a whole, to sustain efforts to enhance and improve levels of security in all aspects of ship and port operations, while at the same time facilitating the innocent movement of people and goods by ships.

Meanwhile, Miguel Palomares of Spain has stepped up to become Director of the Secretariat’s Marine Environment Division following the retirement of Mr. Jean-Claude Sainlos. Stefan Micallef of Malta becomes Deputy Director of that Division and Head of its Sub-Division for Pollution Response and Technical Cooperation Coordination.