On 10 December 2021 (London, United Kingdom), Thailand was re-elected to the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in Category “C” for the term 2022-2023 at the elections held during the 32nd Session of the IMO Assembly at the headquarters of the IMO in London. Thailand received 107 votes out of the total of 180 votes casted (ranked the 19th) and is among the twenty countries elected for Category C. This is the ninth consecutive term which Thailand has served in the IMO Council, under Category “C”, since having been first elected in 2006. In presenting the candidature, Thailand champions the theme “Global Partnership for Maritime Sustainability”, which is very well-received among the IMO member states and reiterates Thailand’s active and constructive role in driving sustainability at the regional and global levels.

The IMO is a specialised agency of the United Nations, mandated to promote cooperation among Member States in setting measures to improve the safety and security of international shipping and to prevent pollution from ships. It was established in 1959 and currently has 174 member states. IMO headquarters is in London, United Kingdom.

The Council is the executive organ of the IMO and is responsible for supervising the work of the Organization. It comprises forty member states, each serving a two-year term, divided under three categories: (1) Category A: Ten states with the largest interests in providing international shipping services; (2) Category B: Ten states with the largest interests in international seaborne trade; and (3) Category C: Twenty states not elected in either categories A or B and which have special interests in maritime transportation or navigation Those electedto the Council will ensure the representation of all the major geographic areas of the world.

In addition to Thailand, other Member States elected to serve the Council under Category “C” are Singapore, Egypt, Cyprus, Malta, Bahamas, Malaysia, Indonesia, Chile, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, Belgium, Morrocco, Turkey, Mexico, Phillipines, Vanuatu, Qatar, Denmark and Thailand respectively.