UK: IMO Selects Former Secretary-General for IMO Prize 2011

The IMO Council has unanimously agreed to award the prestigious International Maritime Prize for 2011 to Mr. E.E. Mitropoulos, Secretary-General Emeritus of IMO, Secretary-General of the Organization from 2004 to 2011, for his significant contribution to the work of IMO during a long and distinguished career with the Organization.

In nominating his candidature, the Government of Greece drew attention to Mr. Mitropoulos’s many achievements, which have resulted in increased worldwide recognition of IMO’s organizational effectiveness and efficiency as a UN body. The nomination highlighted his strong and insistent advocacy of a united Membership and the adoption of an effective global maritime safety and security culture, environmental consciousness and corporate responsibility, noting in particular the efforts made by the Organization under his leadership to assist in the prevention and suppression of acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships, including the adoption of guidance to shipowners, ship operators, shipmasters and crew, as well as recommendations to Governments.

The nomination also stressed Mr. Mitropoulos’s advocacy and foresight in working towards the protection of the environment, whether marine or atmospheric; enhancing maritime security; improving the efficiency of maritime traffic; ensuring the consideration of relevant legal matters and fostering and promoting global acceptance and uniform, effective implementation and enforcement of IMO’s treaty instruments, including through the provision of technical assistance to developing countries, as well as the establishment of a scheme for auditing IMO Member States’ maritime Administrations.

International Maritime Prize

The International Maritime Prize is awarded annually by IMO to the individual or organization judged to have made the most significant contribution to the work and objectives of IMO. It consists of a sculpture in the form of a dolphin and includes a financial award, upon submission of a paper written on a subject relevant to IMO.

The prize will be presented to Mr. Mitropoulos at a special ceremony, on a date to be arranged.

Biography of Mr. E.E. Mitropoulos, Secretary-General Emeritus of IMO

Efthimios E. Mitropoulos was born in Piraeus, Greece, to a maritime family originating from Galaxidi, historically a leading Greek maritime centre. A graduate of Aspropyrgos Merchant Marine School and Piraeus Naval Academy, he started his career as a Merchant Navy Officer and, from 1962, as a commissioned Officer of the Hellenic Coast Guard. He studied shipping economics in Italy and marine technology in the United Kingdom. As a representative of the Greek Ministry of Mercantile Marine, he attended various IMO meetings between 1966 and 1977 as well as the Third UN Conference on the Law of the Sea. From 1977 to 1979, he was Harbour Master of Corfu.

Mr. Mitropoulos joined the IMO Secretariat in January 1979, in the Maritime Safety Division, and, in May 1992, was appointed Director of the Division. In May 2000, he became Assistant Secretary-General and, in November 2003, was elected Secretary-General for 2004 to 2008. In November 2006, his mandate was renewed for a second, four-year term, concluding on 31 December 2011.

He is also Chancellor of the World Maritime University (Malmö, Sweden) and Chairman of the Governing Board of the International Maritime Law Institute in Malta, both posts being held until 30 June 2012, and the IMO Council has accorded him the status of “Chancellor Emeritus” of WMU from 30 June.

He is the author of several books on shipping economics and policy, categories/types of merchant vessels, safety of navigation and other shipping-related matters.

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Source: IMO, June 18, 2012