Denmark's Nordseth Eyes Job as IMO Chief

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Thursday October 16, 2014

Head of the Denmark Maritime Authority, Andreas Norseth, Wednesday was said to be considering standing as a candidate to replace Koji Sekimizu as secretary general of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) when Sekimizu steps down next year, Reuters reports.

"It will be good to see a Dane in the chair as we are a global maritime nation that is committed to quality shipping and effective global regulation to ensure a level playing field," said Anne Steffensen, director general of the Danish Shipowners' Association.

Denmark is a global player in the shipping market, with Danish ships representing around seven percent of world tonnage and carrying 10 percent of the globe's seaborne goods, according to the report.

The nation often plays an active part in developing new rules, such as its recent trial of electronic certification and has never seen one of its countrymen in the top job at the IMO.

"There is no doubt that global rules drawn up by the IMO are a great advantage for Danish shipping companies," said Steffensen, pointing to the fact that 90 percent of Danish shipping companies' activities take place outside Danish waters.

Sekimizu has said he will step down at the end of next year and is expected to tender his resignation at an IMO meeting in December, after which official candidates will be announced.

Panama, Cyprus and Mexico are also said to be looking to field candidates.

Earlier this year, Nordseth called for international cooperation, development of new technology, improved statistics and documentation of non-compliance, and sanctions against offenders to combat Emissions Control Area (ECA) non-compliance.