Portrait of Mr. Mitropoulos unveiled
Mr. E.E. Mitropoulos, Secretary-General Emeritus of IMO, Secretary-General of the Organization from 2004 to 2011, has been awarded the prestigious International Maritime Prize, for his significant contribution to the work of IMO.
IMO Secretary-General Mr. Koji Sekimizu presented the award, a sculpture in the form of a dolphin, to Mr. Mitropoulos, during a special ceremony at IMO Headquarters (on Tuesday, 27 November 2012), on the second day of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), 91st session.
Mr. E. E. Mitropoulos receives theInternational Maritime Prizefrom IMO Secretary-General Mr. Koji Sekimizu (Photo Credit: IMO)
Mr. Mitropoulos was nominated for the prize by the Government of Greece and has been recognized for his outstanding contribution to the purposes and functions of IMO during his long and distinguished career with the Organization, culminating in his eight-year stewardship as Secretary-General.
His notable achievements include:
his commitment to the promotion of IMO as the only organization for the development and adoption of global maritime standards;
his support for and encouragement of the effective participation in the Organization’s work by all sectors of the shipping and related industries and organizations representing civil society interests;
his support for the Organization’s technical co-operation programme, which has better enabled developing States to adopt, implement and enforce the Organization’s instruments;
his dedication to strengthening the governance and capacity of the Organization’s educational institutions, which have become firmly established global providers of high quality, advanced maritime training and education;
his advocacy and foresight in working towards the establishment of a mandatory scheme for auditing member States’ maritime administrations;
his leadership in the wide and effective implementation of the 1979 Maritime Search and Rescue Convention and his tireless efforts to promote the establishment of the Global SAR Plan;
his unstinting efforts to enhance environmental awareness and responsibility among all stakeholders and, in particular, to develop and adopt major amendments to existing IMO environmental treaty instruments;
his success in instituting an international Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea and the holding of parallel World Maritime Day events around the world;
his success in rallying the global maritime community in support of seafarers through the launching of the “Go to Sea!” campaign in 2009 and the denomination of 2010 as the international “Year of the Seafarer”;
his resolve to gain global support from all relevant stakeholders in response to the threat of piracy and armed robbery against ships;
his humanitarian support for individuals and developing countries through, among other things, using his good offices to promote the release of detained seafarers and the establishment of funds to support the south east Asian tsunami victims and those of the Haiti earthquake;
his determination and drive in establishing regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres and Sub-Centres along the coast of Africa; and
his unstinting support for the advancement of women in the maritime sector,
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.
Portrait of Mr. Mitropoulos unveiled
Also on Tuesday, a portrait of Mr. Mitropoulos was unveiled.
The painting, by marine artist Robert Lloyd, will be hung alongside the portraits of other former Secretaries-General of the Organization, at IMO Headquarters in London.
Source: IMO
