Koji Sekimizu | |
---|---|
8th Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization | |
In office January 1, 2012 – December 31, 2015 | |
Preceded by | Efthymios Mitropoulos |
Succeeded by | Kitack Lim |
Personal details | |
Born | December 3, 1952 |
Alma mater | Osaka University |
Koji Sekimizu (born 3 December 1952) is a Japanese official who was Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization between 2012 and 2015, as well as Chancellor of the World Maritime University. [1] [2]
Sekimizu attended school in Yokohama. [1] He studied a Bachelor's degree in Engineering at Osaka University and then obtained a Master's degree in Engineering from Osaka University in 1977. [1]
In 1977, he was appointed at a ship inspectior for the Ministry of Transport in Japan. [1] In 1979, he became responsible for IMO safety planning regulations at the Ministry of Transport Ship Bureau. [1] In 1980, he began attending meetings at the IMO in London. [1] He eventually rose to become Deputy Director of Maritime Safety Standards in 1986. [1]
In 1989, Sekimizu joined the IMO as a technical officer. [1] In 1992, he became Head of Technology in the Maritime Safety Division. [1] In 1997, he became the Senior Deputy Director of the Maritime Environment Division. [1] In 2004, he was appointed as the Director of the Maritime Safety Division at the IMO. [1] [2]
On 28 June 2011, he was elected Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization. [3] This appointment was confirmed on 1 December 2011 and he became the eighth Secretary-General of the IMO. [1] He began his term as Secretary-General on 1 January 2012. [2]
In July 2012, in response to the Costa Concordia disaster, he stated that the IMO needed to seriously consider the lessons to be learnt [from the accident] and, if necessary, re-reexamine the requirements on the safety of large passenger ships. [4] In September 2012, he argued for enhanced safety regulations for passenger shipping in the maritime industry. [5] In June 2013, in Oslo, he advised audiences of the IMO development of the Polar Code. [6]
In 2015, he stated clearly that the IMO must help prevent migrants from being sent to unsafe ports, specifically in the Mediterranean. [7] In 2015, Sekimizu also said that shippers should not be responsible for capping their environmental emissions. [8] In April 2015, he welcomed Zambia as the newest IMO member State. [9]
Seikimizu served as Secretary-General until 31 December 2015. [1] He was succeeded on 1 January 2016 by Kitack Lim. [1] [10] On his retirement from the IMO at the end of 2015, he was the last Japanese official to lead a UN specialised agency until the appointment of Masahiko Metoki to the Universal Postal Union in 2022. [11]
In 2016, following his retirement he received the International Maritime Prize for his contributions at IMO. [12]
He is married, with a daughter, son and two grand-daughters. [1]
Koji Sekimizu | |
---|---|
8th Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization | |
In office January 1, 2012 – December 31, 2015 | |
Preceded by | Efthymios Mitropoulos |
Succeeded by | Kitack Lim |
Personal details | |
Born | December 3, 1952 |
Alma mater | Osaka University |
Koji Sekimizu (born 3 December 1952) is a Japanese official who was Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization between 2012 and 2015, as well as Chancellor of the World Maritime University. [1] [2]
Sekimizu attended school in Yokohama. [1] He studied a Bachelor's degree in Engineering at Osaka University and then obtained a Master's degree in Engineering from Osaka University in 1977. [1]
In 1977, he was appointed at a ship inspectior for the Ministry of Transport in Japan. [1] In 1979, he became responsible for IMO safety planning regulations at the Ministry of Transport Ship Bureau. [1] In 1980, he began attending meetings at the IMO in London. [1] He eventually rose to become Deputy Director of Maritime Safety Standards in 1986. [1]
In 1989, Sekimizu joined the IMO as a technical officer. [1] In 1992, he became Head of Technology in the Maritime Safety Division. [1] In 1997, he became the Senior Deputy Director of the Maritime Environment Division. [1] In 2004, he was appointed as the Director of the Maritime Safety Division at the IMO. [1] [2]
On 28 June 2011, he was elected Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization. [3] This appointment was confirmed on 1 December 2011 and he became the eighth Secretary-General of the IMO. [1] He began his term as Secretary-General on 1 January 2012. [2]
In July 2012, in response to the Costa Concordia disaster, he stated that the IMO needed to seriously consider the lessons to be learnt [from the accident] and, if necessary, re-reexamine the requirements on the safety of large passenger ships. [4] In September 2012, he argued for enhanced safety regulations for passenger shipping in the maritime industry. [5] In June 2013, in Oslo, he advised audiences of the IMO development of the Polar Code. [6]
In 2015, he stated clearly that the IMO must help prevent migrants from being sent to unsafe ports, specifically in the Mediterranean. [7] In 2015, Sekimizu also said that shippers should not be responsible for capping their environmental emissions. [8] In April 2015, he welcomed Zambia as the newest IMO member State. [9]
Seikimizu served as Secretary-General until 31 December 2015. [1] He was succeeded on 1 January 2016 by Kitack Lim. [1] [10] On his retirement from the IMO at the end of 2015, he was the last Japanese official to lead a UN specialised agency until the appointment of Masahiko Metoki to the Universal Postal Union in 2022. [11]
In 2016, following his retirement he received the International Maritime Prize for his contributions at IMO. [12]
He is married, with a daughter, son and two grand-daughters. [1]