Kuwait approves 2021 amendments as IMO council expands to 52 seats
Kuwait has approved amendments to the Convention Establishing the International Maritime Organization (IMO), adopted in 2021, under Decree Law No. 135 of 2026, published in the Official Gazette, Kuwait Alyawm.
The amendments cover five key articles dealing with the composition of the IMO Council, distribution of seats, membership terms, the quorum for meetings and the official languages of the convention.
Adopted by the IMO Assembly during its 32nd regular session in London on December 8, 2021, the amendments increase the number of Council members from 40 to 52, with all members elected by the organization’s General Assembly, following the revision of Article 16.
The amended Article 17 establishes a three-category distribution of the 52 seats. Twelve seats will go to countries with major interests in providing international maritime transport services, while another 12 will be allocated to countries with major interests in international seaborne trade.
The remaining 28 seats will be assigned to countries not covered by the first two categories but which have special interests in maritime transport or represent major geographical regions of the world.
Under the revised Article 18, elected Council members will remain in office until the end of the next two regular sessions of the Assembly and will be eligible for re-election. The amendment to Article 19(b) also increases the quorum required for Council meetings to 34 members, reflecting the expansion of the Council.
The amendments also revise Article 81, adding Arabic, Russian and Chinese to the convention’s approved languages. Accordingly, the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish versions will have equal legal authority.
According to the explanatory memorandum, Kuwait joined the IMO convention on April 10, 1960, and became a full member on July 5 of the same year. The organization works to enhance the safety of lives, ships and goods at sea and strengthen international cooperation in maritime navigation and related technical matters.
The memorandum noted that the amendments had been approved by the relevant Kuwaiti authorities, including the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs, as they do not conflict with Kuwait’s obligations under Arab and international frameworks. Their approval required the issuance of a law in accordance with Article 70 of the Constitution because they relate to an international agreement.
