This week, the coastal capital of Jamaica, Kingston, has become a global hub for maritime governance as it welcomes delegates from across the world for the 31st Session of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) Assembly. The high-stakes gathering brings together senior government officials, leadership from major international bodies, and top industry executives to tackle one of the ocean economy’s most pressing topics: how to govern and sustainably harvest the vast resources stored on the world’s deep seabeds.
A defining milestone of this year’s Assembly sets it apart from all previous sessions: for the first time in the history of the two organizations, the sitting Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, is participating in the summit. In an official press statement issued ahead of the session, ISA Secretary-General Leticia Carvalho extended a warm welcome to Dominguez, framing his attendance as a transformative milestone for inter-agency cooperation. “This is an important moment in the relationship between our two organizations and a great sign for what the future holds,” Carvalho noted.
Beyond his participation in the ISA Assembly proceedings, Dominguez has carried out a packed schedule of engagements across Jamaica’s thriving maritime sector. He held in-depth meetings with leadership from the island nation’s top maritime institutions, including the Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ), the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU), Kingston Wharves Limited, and the Kingston Freeport Terminal. These meetings served as a platform to showcase Jamaica’s growing maritime footprint, highlighting the country’s advances in regulatory governance, specialized maritime education and workforce training, cutting-edge port operations, and its strategic role as a hub for international trade in the Caribbean.
As part of his on-the-ground visit, Dominguez also made a point to meet directly with seafarers aboard vessels docked at the Port of Kingston. During these candid interactions, he emphasized that seafarers are the unsung backbone of global commerce, whose work keeps supply chains moving and international trade connected. He used the opportunity to reaffirm the IMO’s long-standing, unwavering commitment to advancing the rights, safety, and well-being of the maritime workers that form the core of the global shipping industry.
As the 31st ISA Assembly continues through the week, delegates are diving into a broad range of critical topics centered on establishing clear governance frameworks, effective regulatory standards, and science-based sustainable management practices for seabed resources. The summit has emerged as a key collaborative platform, bringing national governments and cross-sector maritime stakeholders together to craft policy solutions that strike a balance between unlocking the economic potential of seabed resources and protecting the fragile deep-sea environment for future generations.