Following the closure of IMO’s headquarters on Thursday 12 and Friday 13 March, as a precautionary measure due to the COVID-19, it is reported that the London Headquarters building has reopened following deep cleaning and sanitization.
Specifically, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the IMO Secretariat continues to function effectively.
Kitack Lim highlighted the importance of moving to this operational mode, where he continues operations, while the majority of staff are working remotely, making full use of telecommuting and teleconferencing technology, commenting that this will protect the staff and the visitors, but also will play its own role in mitigating the impact of the COVID-19.
It should be reminded that the IMO has postponed all meetings, until further notice.
In light of the temporary closure, Kitack Lim stated that the COVID-19 pandemic does not only impact the shipping industry, but the whole world as well, hoping that any negative impact it might have on the good progress being made at IMO on key policy issues such as environmental protection, would be short-lived.
despite working from home, IMO staff remain fully committed to supporting the Member States and delivering on the Organization’s objectives and mandates,
… IMO’s statement concluded.
