1. The 34^th Regular Session of International Maritime Organization (IMO) Assembly commenced on 24 November 2025 at the IMO Headquarters in London, United Kingdom. The IMO Assembly, which convenes every two (2) years, is the Organization’s highest decision-making body, bringing together 176 Member States. The IMO Assembly deliberates on global maritime and shipping policies, including maritime safety and security, marine environment protection, legal matters, technical cooperation and capacity building.

2. Brunei Darussalam was represented at the Assembly by Yang Berhormat Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha, Minister of Transport and Infocommunications. During the Assembly, 82 Heads of Delegation, including Brunei Darussalam, delivered General Statements. 

3. In his Statement to the Assembly on 24 November 2025, Yang Berhormat Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha expressed appreciation to His Excellency Arsenio Antonio Dominguez, the Secretary-General of IMO, for his instrumental role in advancing the work and goals of the IMO towards a safer, greener and more efficient maritime transport, promoting digitalisation, and strengthening support for seafarers and developing States.

4. Yang Berhormat expressed Brunei Darussalam’s support of these endeavours and shared aspirations, reaffirming the country’s strong commitment to the objectives of the IMO. He highlighted the role of the maritime sector in driving economic diversification, trade facilitation, national resilience, and creating future-ready employment opportunities. In marking Brunei Darussalam’s 40th year of IMO membership, Yang Berhormat emphasised the nation’s longstanding partnership in advancing a safe, secure, and sustainable maritime industry, including in modernising its Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS), and the implementation of the Maritime Single Window (MSW) in March 2025, in line with Brunei Darussalam’s accession to the Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL Convention).

5. On the 2023 IMO Strategy on the Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ships, Yang Berhormat mentioned that the transition towards low-and-zero emission shipping must be inclusive and feasible for all member states, considering varying national capacities and circumstances.

6. Additionally, Yang Berhormat further shared that Brunei Darussalam has contributed to IMO’s technical cooperation fund, including hosting the IMO Regional Workshop on the Liability and Compensation Conventions, attended by 13 Member States from the Asia Pacific Region in January 2025.

7. During the Assembly, Yang Berhormat held a series of bilateral discussions, including with His Excellency Brigadier General (R.) Dr. M Sakhawat Hussain, Honourable Adviser, Ministry of Shipping of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh; His Excellency Abdessamad Kayouh, Minister of Transport and Logistics of the Kingdom of Morocco; and His Excellency Saleh Al-Jasser, Minister of Transport and Logistics Services and Chairman of the Transport General Authority’s Board of Directors (TGA) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The discussions explored potential collaboration in maritime development, including broader cooperation in transport, logistics, and connectivity.

8. Yang Berhormat also held a courtesy call with His Excellency Francis Zachariae, the Secretary-General of International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA). During the meeting, Yang Berhormat highlighted Brunei Darussalam’s efforts to strengthen maritime safety, including ongoing upgrades of navigational systems and infrastructure, as well as forthcoming plans to accede to the Convention on the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA).

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9. Also present as part of Brunei Darussalam’s delegation were Yang Mulia Awang Haji Mohammad Salihin bin Haji Aspar, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Transport) at the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications, His Excellency First Admiral (R) Pengiran Dato Seri Pahlawan Norazmi bin Pengiran Haji Muhammad, High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam in London, Yang Mulia Captain (R) Zil Husam bin Abdul Rahman, Chief Executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Brunei Darussalam (MPABD), along with senior officials from the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications (MTIC) and the Maritime and Port Authority of Brunei Darussalam (MPABD).

10.The Thirty-Fourth Regular Session of IMO Assembly will continue until 3 December 2025, which will be attended by representatives from MTIC and MPABD. 

Prepared by:

Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications, Brunei Darussalam