IBIA delighted to participate in IMO’s 70th celebration and meet Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Seventy years to the day since the treaty establishing the United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO) was adopted, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II marked the occasion at IMO Headquarters in London on 6 March.

Accompanied by IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II unveiled a commemorative plaque and cut an anniversary cake. Her Majesty also met some of the guests attending the event, including representatives of IMO Member States, inter-governmental and international non-governmental organizations, and IMO Secretariat staff.

“We are celebrating 70 years of achievement, in which the truly vital industry of shipping has become safer, cleaner and greener, thanks to the work of IMO. We are also looking ahead to the exciting new challenges on the horizon,” said IMO Secretary-General Lim.

IBIA’s IMO Representative, Unni Einemo, was privileged to be in one of six small “conversation groups” to briefly chat with HM Queen Elizabeth II.

Unni said: “It was such a fantastic honour! Her Majesty was so impressive. She was all smiles and took time to shake hands and talk to us all individually, which was much more than we had expected. The entire ceremony was such a joyous occasion and beautifully organised by the IMO, an organisation that has achieved so much and which we should all support to ensure regulations for shipping are global, effective but also pragmatic.”

Today, IMO continues its important work to improve maritime safety and security, the efficiency of navigation and the prevention and control of pollution from ships, as well as the fair and effective implementation of its regulations.