Denmark is nominating Director-General of the Danish Maritime Authority for the post of Secretary-General of the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO). The election was officially announced in December 2014 and is expected to be held by the IMO Council on June 30, 2015. The position will become vacant on January 1, 2016 as the present Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu resigns at the end of 2015.
Andreas Nordseth is a highly experienced leader. As Director-General of the Danish Maritime Authority, he functions as Denmark’s chief maritime executive, responsible for the strategic development and daily running of the maritime authority. Moreover, he is also the principal maritime advisor to the Danish Government. In his current position, Mr. Nordseth is heavily involved with Denmark’s work in the IMO. He is the Head of the Danish delegation in the IMO Council and Assembly and is in charge of the Danish Maritime Authority’s efforts on all levels at IMO. In addition, Mr. Nordseth has been Chairman of the international Consultative Shipping Group (CSG) since 2009, Governor at the World Maritime University and a board member of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). He also holds various posts in committees and on boards within the maritime domain.
Minister for Business and Growth Henrik Sass Larsen states his strong believe in Mr. Nordseth:
“Mr. Andreas Nordseth is a strong candidate for the job. He has many years of experience in the maritime field and, as Director General of the Danish Maritime Authority, he sets the course for quality shipping both domestically and internationally.
The decisions taken by the IMO are of decisive importance to Danish and international shipping. The IMO must continue to promote quality shipping globally, while being capable of meeting the new challenges faced by the Organization. I have no doubt that Mr. Andreas Nordseth will be able to head the Organization in this work.
As Director General of a major maritime administration, which is responsible for a wide area of maritime issues, he has solid experience with international maritime affairs and the challenges met by the maritime industry, such as safety at sea and the promotion of business and growth.”
Andreas Nordseth is 54 years old and has worked with the Danish Maritime Authority under the Ministry of Business and Growth since 1991. He was appointed Director General in 2009.
Mr. Nortseths vision
If Mr. Nortseth is elected to be the next Secretary-General, his vision is for the IMO to maintain and develop its fundamental role and brand as the world’s focal point for regulation of shipping. He is committed to ensuring a global, level playing field for shipping, promoting sustainable quality shipping by effective, enforceable regulation, reducing administrative burdens and promoting competent seafarers. For the IMO to support this, the Secretariat must continue to serve its constituents with great competence, effectiveness and efficiency – getting the best results from the given resources.
Other candidates for the post
Besides Denmark, there are five other countries which have candidates for the position: Cyprus, Russia, South Korea, Kenya and the Philippines are also nominating people for the position as Secretary-General of the IMO. The candidates are:
- Philippines: Director of the Maritime Industry Authority of the Philippines, Maximo Q. Mejia Jr.
- Cyprus: Director of the Cyprus Department of Merchant Shipping and former President of the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee, Andreas Chrysostoumou.
- Russia: Vitaly Klyuev, Deputy Director, Department of State Policy for Maritime and River Transport, Ministry of Transport.
- South Korea: Ki-tack Lim, CEO & President, Busan Port Authority.
- Kenya: Juvenal J. Shiundu, Deputy Director/ Head of Programme Management, IMO.
During the election round, the vote will continue until one candidate has an absolute majority. The candidate with the fewest votes in each round will be eliminated, and a new voting round will take place. Consequently, this means one needs to gain support even from countries that have a candidate.
As part of the campaign to become the next Secretary-General, Mr. Nordseth met with Robert J. Faucher, Director of the Office of Specialized and Technical Agencies, Bureau of International Organization Affairs in U.S. State Department on March 24, 2015. Mr. Nordseth also met with Rear Admiral Paul Thomas of the U.S. Coast Guard on March 25. The U.S. authorities were positive regarding Mr. Nordseth’s candidacy and consider him a serious and well qualified candidate.
To read more about Mr. Nordseth please visit his website.