The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has laid out the organisation's plans and focus areas for the next four years, with the aim of ensuring safer, more secure and environmentally friendly shipping.

Arsenio Dominguez, secretary general of IMO said one thing that he is very focused on is to make the organisation a "more diverse, inclusive and transparent institution."

He also touched on various challenges and opportunities for the maritime sector.

Highlighting the ongoing attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea, Dominguez said the attacks and underscored the paramount importance of protecting seafarers' lives — as he continued to call for the de-escalation of tensions and the freedom of navigation of ships in the area.  

"Trade volume going through the Suez Canal has fallen by 42% over the last two months," the IMO chief noted, citing according to estimates by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

The Secretary-General underscored the resilience of shipping in the face of global challenges and confirmed that IMO is actively dialoguing with countries, industry partners and the international community to find solutions. 

The Secretary-General also provided an update on IMO's work towards decarbonizing shipping by or around 2050.

"This makes it the first UN agency and first sector to define a global strategy to cut greenhouse gas emissions, including mandatory measures to deliver on targets," Dominguez said.