(NEWS) IMO Director of Legal Affairs Lectures on Obligations of Maritime Administrations

January

2024

IMO Director of Legal Affairs Lectures on Obligations of Maritime Administrations

On 19 January, WMU students had the opportunity to interact with Dr Dorota Lost-Sieminska, Director of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Legal Affairs and External Relations Division, who delivered a lecture on IMO Treaty-making and Implementation as part of the Introduction to the Roles and Obligations of Maritime Administrations course.

The overall course provides a broad overview and appreciation of the role of government in the administration of maritime affairs and examines maritime administration conceptually and in terms of maritime governance such as implementation of maritime Conventions. Complementing the core instruction by resident faculty, Dr Lost-Sieminska’s lecture focused on the institutional approach to rule-making and the question of enforcement of IMO maritime standards. Dr Lost-Sieminska also provided highlights of the agenda of the upcoming IMO Legal Committee’s 111th session, which will be attended by WMU students as part of their field studies programme. The speaker expressed her support to WMU’s educational and capacity-training curriculum, and referred to ongoing collaboration between IMO and WMU on the combating of the fraudulent registration of ships.

At IMO, Dr Lost-Sieminska is responsible for leading the activities of the Legal Affairs and External Relations Division on various complex and topical subjects of international maritime law and treaty law and she oversees the development of tools for the enhancement of the Organization's legal and external relations work. She also manages the depositary functions of the Organization, serves as the Secretary to the IMO Legal Committee and provides first line support to the Secretary-General in his capacity as Secretary of the Council and the Assembly. Her duties also include leading the Organization's accreditation, events, functions, inter-agency and protocol-related activities; providing guidance and assistance to Governments, inter and non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders; managing the Organization's Public Information Services; managing the activities and continuous development of the Organization’s Maritime Knowledge Centre; ensuring collaboration with all Divisions of the IMO Secretariat and all external stakeholders engaged in the Organization’s legal and external relations work.

The Malmö MSc in Maritime Affairs is a 14-month programme with seven specializations: Maritime Education & Training; Maritime Energy Management; Maritime Law & Policy; Maritime Safety & Environmental Administration; Ocean Sustainability, Governance and Management; Port Management, and Shipping Management & Logistics. Foundation studies are taught in the first term and cover the introductory knowledge that is fundamental to all activities in the maritime field. Three successive terms focus on specialization studies and a dissertation. WMU has more than 150 Visiting Lecturers from around the world who contribute their expertise to enrich the education of WMU students.

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