International Maritime Organization to elect Member States to Council: Finland candidate for re-election

The Assembly of the International Maritime Organization IMO will meet in London from 24 November to 3 December 2025. Finland is a candidate for re-election as a member of the IMO Council. The Assembly will vote on the members of the new Council on Friday 28 November 2025.

Finland has been a member of the IMO Council in 2024–2025 and is now a candidate for re-election. Finland wants to continue the work to promote efficiency, transparency and inclusiveness in IMO and to improve the position of women in the international shipping sector. If re-elected to the Council, Finland will advocate to ensure, in particular, that the voices of maritime educators and the next generation of seafarers are heard.

“Finland is an active and constructive member of the IMO Council. We are seeking re-election so that we can offer Finnish expertise and solutions for tackling the challenges in the shipping sector,” Minister of Transport and Communications Lulu Ranne says.

Key themes for Finland at these IMO Assemblies include efficiency and transparency of administration, respect for Ccommittee decisions, and the adoption of important resolutions.

Finland’s delegation will be chaired by Päivi Antikainen, Director of the Aviation and Maritime Transport Unit of the Ministry of Transport and Communications. State Secretary for EU Affairs Minna Kivimäki from the Prime Minister’s Office will also be a member of the Finnish delegation and deliver Finland’s address general statement at the Assembly.

Besides them, the Finnish delegation is composed of representatives of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister’s Office, Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom and Government of Åland. This time the delegation also includes experts in maritime transport education from the Satakunta University of Applied Sciences, Joint Authority of Education of Kotka-Hamina Region Ekami, South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences Xamk, Åland University of Applied Sciences, Novia University of Applied Sciences and Aboa Mare Maritime Academy.

International Maritime Organization develops regulation on shipping

The International Maritime Organization IMO plays a key role in developing international rules for maritime transport. The Council, consisting of IMO Member States, provides comprehensive guidance for the Organization’s work between the Assembliesy sessions.

A total of 40 Council members are elected from three categories:

• From category A, 10 Council members are elected. States in this category have the largest interest in providing international shipping services.
• From category B, 10 Council members are elected. The states in this category have the largest interest in international seaborne trade.
• From category C, 20 Council members are elected. The states in this category have special interests in maritime transport or navigation, and members are elected from this category to ensure representation of all major geographic areas of the world in the Council.

Finland is a candidate in category C.

Currently, the IMO has 176 Member States. Finland has been a Member since 1959.

What’s next?

The IMO Assembly will vote on the members of the new Council on 28 November 2025. The new Council will begin its work on 1 January 2026.

Inquiries: 

Eero Hokkanen, Ministerial Adviser, Alternate Permanent Representative of Finland to the IMO, tel. +358 50 476 0401, [email protected]