Thirty-fourth regular session of the Assembly will approve 2026-2027 work programme and budget.

The Assembly of the International Maritime Organization will hold 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 for 2026 and 2027. The Assembly, open to all 176 Member States and three Associate Members, is the highest governing body of IMO and is preceded by the 135th session of the IMO Council from 19 to 21 November.  

During the session, the Assembly will elect a new 40-Member Council for the 2026-2027 biennium across categories (a), (b) and (c), with the vote scheduled for 28 November by in-person secret ballot. The newly elected Council will convene on 4 December for its 136th session to elect its Chair and Vice-Chair.  

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 Assembly is expected to adopt the revised Strategic Plan for 2024-2029 along with the Organization’s budget and work programme for 2026 and 2027.

IMO will also host the IMO Awards Ceremony 

IMO will also host the IMO Awards Ceremony on 24 November at its London Headquarters, presenting the International Maritime Prize for 2024 and the 2025 IMO Honours for Exceptional Bravery at sea.  

Delegates will consider several resolutions, covering areas such as capacity development strategy, port State control procedures for 2025, survey guidelines under the Harmonized System of Survey and Certification, obligations under instruments relevant to the IMO Instruments Implementation Code, the Member State Audit Scheme, the Code on Alerts and Indicators for 2025, and criteria for mobile satellite communication systems in the global maritime distress and safety system.

Other items 

Other items include charges for safety communications through recognized satellite services, the consolidated text of the IMO Convention, progressive use of Arabic as a working language, procedures for live streaming Assembly plenary meetings, rules of procedure and relations with non-governmental organizations.  Plenary sessions will be livestreamed, while the Council election will remain in-person and not broadcast.

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 The Assembly will adopt several resolutions on key aspects of the Organization's work, including those covering:     

• IMO Capacity Development Strategy    
• Procedures for port State control, 2025    
• Survey Guidelines under the Harmonized System of Survey and Certification (HSSC), 2025   
• 2025 Non-exhaustive list of obligations under instruments relevant to the IMO Instruments Implementation Code (III Code)   
• Framework and procedures for the IMO Member State Audit Scheme   
• Code on Alerts and Indicators, 2025   
• Criteria for the provision of mobile satellite communication systems in the global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS)   
• Charges for distress, urgency and safety communications through recognized mobile satellite services in the GMDSS   
• Consolidated Text of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization   
• Progressive use of Arabic as a working language of the Organization      
• Criteria and procedures for live streaming to the public of IMO Assembly plenary meetings   
• Rules of Procedure of the Assembly   

• Relations with non-governmental organizations   

  The Assembly is the highest Governing Body of the IMO,

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).  Plenary sessions will be livestreamed on IMO's Youtube Channel. The election of the Council will be held in person, via secret ballot and will not be livestreamed. Results will be shared via IMO on X and on the IMO website.  

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IMO Assembly  وnew Council , Elect , IMO Council ,2026-2027 work programme ,IMO Convention, IMO Awards Ceremony