London, 24 March 2026 – The Embassy of Italy in London hosted this morning a high-level meeting promoted by the Permanent Representation of Italy to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), dedicated to the main challenges and prospects of the international maritime sector.
The proceedings were opened by Deputy Ambassador Riccardo Smimmo, who highlighted the strategic role of maritime diplomacy in strengthening dialogue between institutions, industry and the international community, underlining London’s central role as a global hub of maritime governance.
During the meeting, Deputy Permanent Representative of Italy Giuseppe Spera presented the activities of the Permanent Representation to international organizations, introducing the 2025 Annual Report as a tool for transparency and accountability of Italy’s actions on the main IMO dossiers. The document highlights Italy’s contribution to the work of the technical Committees, its active role in negotiations on safety, environment and facilitation of maritime traffic, as well as its commitment to supporting capacity-building initiatives and cooperation with developing countries.
The event was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, the General Command of the Italian Coast Guard – Port Authorities Corps, and the Ministry for the Sea, together with representatives of the national shipping industry, the Propeller Club – Port of Italy, and distinguished figures from the maritime, industrial and academic sectors.
The discussion provided an opportunity to explore key issues on the global maritime agenda, including the digitalization of maritime traffic and port systems, the energy transition and decarbonization of maritime transport, the strengthening of navigation safety, and the role of multilateral cooperation within the IMO framework. Several achievements obtained by Italy in 2025 were also highlighted, including contributions to work on MASS, the GHG Strategy, passenger safety, the fight against shadow fleets, and the strengthening of IMSAS audit mechanisms.
The need to balance environmental sustainability, sector competitiveness and supply chain resilience was emphasized, in line with the strategic priorities outlined in the Annual Report.
During the meeting, Italy’s commitment to promoting an increasingly safe, sustainable and innovative international maritime system was reaffirmed, enhancing the contribution of the national system and strengthening coordination with international partners.
The initiative forms part of the maritime diplomacy activities promoted by Italy in London and confirms the country’s role as a leading actor in global maritime governance.
