IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez sits down with Carl King in Batumi, Georgia

When IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez sat down with cadets in Batumi, Georgia, he wasn’t there to deliver a prepared speech. He was there to listen. To answer tough questions. And to lead from the front on one of the most critical issues facing the maritime world today: creating a safer, more inclusive, and ultimately more resilient future for seafarers.

This year’s Day of the Seafarer theme—“My Harassment-Free Ship”—wasn’t just a hashtag. It was a call to action. As Dominguez explained, harassment and sexual harassment on board are not new problems—but they are often ignored in the confined, hierarchical spaces of life at sea. “Let’s acknowledge, first of all, that it is happening,” he said. “That it’s a problem. And that we have to kill it.”

Dominguez’s message was clear: regulation alone isn’t enough. While the upcoming STCW amendments will mandate training on bullying and harassment, it’s the ongoing conversation, peer connection, and cultural change that will make the difference. The campaign is not about compliance; it’s about creating space for shared stories, support, and change. “The more we talk about it,” he emphasized, “the more we bring down the stigma.”

Beyond the campaign, the Secretary-General used his visit to Georgia—a country with over 18,000 seafarers and growing maritime ambitions—to spotlight the region’s rising influence. From investments in digitalization and port infrastructure to ambitions around decarbonization, Georgia is positioning itself as a modern maritime player. Dominguez noted their successful implementation of the Maritime Single Window and urged them to share their knowledge: “It’s going to help us assist other countries.”

But the heart of this conversation was not tech or policy. It was people.

Throughout the interview, Dominguez returned to a core belief: the future of maritime depends on how seriously we take the needs, voices, and expectations of the next generation. “The seafarers of the future are our customers,” he said. “We need to be aware of their concerns if we are serious about tackling them.”

This belief was on full display during his open Q&A with cadets, where young seafarers raised complex topics—geopolitics, diversity, and operational efficiency. For Dominguez, these are not “difficult” conversations; they are essential ones. “It gives me that additional drive,” he said, “to go back to IMO and talk to the member states… to make them aware of the expectations.”

Looking ahead, he hinted at future themes for Day of the Seafarer that connect workplace safety and dignity with broader challenges like seafarer fatigue, mental health, and fair treatment. He stressed the need for cross-sector collaboration, naming the ILO as a potential partner in advancing seafarers’ rights.

His final message? Don’t walk away from shipping. Yes, the industry is facing geopolitical pressures, climate imperatives, and an evolving safety landscape. But it’s also listening. It’s adapting. And it needs the energy, perspective, and expectations of today’s cadets to shape what comes next.

“In shipping,” Dominguez said, “you stand in one place—and can move in many directions.”