As an active participant at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) delegation engages in the work of all the major IMO committee and sub-committee meetings. Individuals from the RMI Maritime Administrator are honored when nominated and appointed by their peers to serve in leadership roles for various IMO meetings and working groups. Two signification changes have taken place in the last several months.
Diego Ramirez, Deputy Commissioner of Maritime Affairs, was elected Chair of the IMO Legal Committee (LEG) during its 12th session in March 2025. Maryanne Adams, Deputy Commissioner of Maritime Affairs, ended her term as Chair of the IMO’s Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC) in late 2024. She is presently coordinating an intersessional Correspondence Group established by the IMO Facilitation Committee (FAL) on maritime digitalization.
With more than 30 years of experience in international and maritime law, Diego Ramirez has participated in several RMI delegations to international bodies throughout his career. Since 2007, Diego has been a delegate to meetings of the IMO LEG, Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), and Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC). He has also chaired Drafting Groups at previous sessions of LEG and MSC and has also participated in the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (IOPCF) meetings. In his role as Chair of LEG, Diego will be responsible for gaining consensus among delegates and liaising with IMO Member States, Organizations, and the IMO Secretariat. The LEG oversees legal matters within the scope of IMO’s mission, including but not limited to fair treatment of seafarers, unlawful activities at sea affecting safe navigation, liability and compensation issues related to the operation of ships, including damage, pollution, passenger claims, and wreck removal.
Maryanne Adams was elected Chair of the IMO’s Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC) from its 6th session in September 2019 through the end of her term in 2024. Maryanne was the first RMI delegate to Chair one of the seven IMO Sub-Committees. Over her tenure, which was extended due to COVID-19, Maryanne guided the CCC Sub-Committee through a number of important actions and decisions relating to matters dealing with the carriage, stowage, and handling of solid bulk cargoes, packaged dangerous goods, bulk gas cargoes, and containers. The timing for many of these actions, particularly in relation to the International Code of Safety for Ships Using Gases or Other Low-flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code) and the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code) amendments addressing alternative fuels, were critical for providing guidance and support as the industry moves forward to comply with IMO’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) strategy. Notably, she accomplished all of this, while navigating CCC through new pandemic protocols, being the first IMO Sub-Committee to convene on a virtual platform in 2021 and the first IMO meeting to successfully utilize hybrid capabilities in 2022 which the IMO continues to use to this day.
The Administrator values the cooperation, participation, and involvement of all IMO Member States and Organizations in progressing the mission of IMO and is honored to recognize Diego and Maryanne for their leadership roles supporting the critical actions of IMO committees, sub-committees, and working groups.
