The London-based International Maritime Organisation (IMO) aims to improve its links with member states in Africa, Asia and Central America and has appointed new “regional coordinators” to this end.
The IMO has been operating so-called ‘Regional Presence Offices’ (RPOs) for some time, but the aim now is to strengthen their voice and improve access for the Member States concerned. Seven regional coordinators will act as the ‘face of the IMO’ on the ground in future.
The regional offices are intended to ensure that the IMO’s support directly addresses the needs and priorities of countries in the various regions, whilst remaining consistent with the organisation’s overarching strategic objectives. This also includes tailored support for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
As part of a comprehensive reorientation of the IMO’s technical cooperation, the regional coordinators will in future steer and coordinate the IMO’s activities in their respective regions. This covers eleven thematic areas, ranging from the marine environment and maritime governance to maritime safety and security.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez welcomed the team, saying: “The regional offices are no longer merely outposts of the organisation; they are the face of the IMO on the ground and form the bridge between our global priorities and the reality in our Member States.”
The regional coordinators recently met in London for the first time to exchange experiences, strengthen their network and discuss ways to promote regional engagement and capacity-building. They discussed the implementation of thematic programmes under the IMO Technical Cooperation Programme 2026–2027. According to the IMO, the new coordinators possess “in-depth knowledge of the specific maritime challenges and opportunities in their regions”. They include the newly appointed heads of the regional offices for the Pacific, East Asia and the Caribbean, as well as the coordinators for French- and English-speaking West and Central Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, and East and Southern Africa.
The seven coordinators for the IMO
- Regional Coordinator for East Asia (based in Manila, Philippines): Johanna Diwa Acallar is described as an “expert in international development and ocean governance with more than 20 years’ experience in maritime affairs, sustainability science, capacity-building and international cooperation”.
- Regional Coordinator for the Pacific (based in Suva, Fiji): Sitalingi Payne “is an experienced professional in the maritime sector with more than 20 years’ experience in the fields of maritime safety and security, port operations, technical cooperation and regional capacity-building in the Pacific Island States.”
- Regional Coordinator for Eastern and Southern Africa (based in Nairobi, Kenya): “Dave Muli is a master mariner and maritime transport specialist; he leads the IMO’s regional presence and technical cooperation programmes in 23 countries across Eastern and Southern Africa.”
- Regional Coordinator for West and Central Africa (English-speaking) (based in Accra, Ghana): Dallas Eric Laryea is a master mariner and an expert in maritime affairs with extensive experience in shipping, surveying and maritime training in West and Central Africa.
- Regional Coordinator for West and Central Africa (French-speaking) (based in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire): Eru Amem Takem is a maritime lawyer who coordinates maritime development initiatives across the 15 member states of the Gulf of Guinea region.
- Regional Coordinator for the Caribbean (based in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago): Vivian Rambarath Parasram is a maritime lawyer, academic and capacity-building leader with more than 25 years’ experience in maritime law, environmental governance, research and maritime education.
- Regional Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa (based in Cairo, Egypt): Refaat Armanios is a marine engineer and maritime safety specialist with extensive experience in flag state administration, IMO audits and the oversight of maritime regulations.
