LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – Liberia’s Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Robert Wilmot Kpadeh, is leading the country’s delegation back to the IMO plenary today, July 21, 2025, for the 11th Session of the Sub-Committee on Implementation of IMO Instruments (III).
The session, being held at the IMO headquarters in London, is focused on strengthening the global enforcement and implementation of maritime safety, security, and environmental standards. It brings together member states to review international shipping regulations, analyze port state control data, and refine procedures for surveys and certification under the Harmonized System of Survey and Certification (HSSC).
According to a dispatch issued by the Permanent Mission, “So far, so good, Liberia has been compliant with IMO instruments, and where there are concerns, the country makes maximum efforts to ensure those concerns are effectively addressed aimed as ensuring it is adhering to international shipping regulations and standards, as an IMO ‘White List’ maritime nation.”
Liberia’s delegation is expected to actively participate in technical discussions and policy dialogues throughout the four-day session. As the world’s largest ship registry by gross tonnage, Liberia’s engagement remains vital to global maritime governance.
Representative Kpadeh is also expected to hold a series of bilateral meetings on the margins of the session with fellow IMO member states. These discussions are aimed at strengthening partnerships and securing support for Liberia’s bid for reelection to the IMO Council under Category A, a seat reserved for states with the largest interest in providing international shipping services.
Further developments from the session are anticipated in the coming days.
