Greece received a record number of votes in this week’s voting for the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) category A Council for the 2026-2027 period, picking up 153 votes from 169 countries casting votes.

The tally was two votes behind first-place China and Italy, which garnered 155 votes. South Korea was third with 154 votes, while Greece shared fourth place with the UK, at 153 votes each.

Speaking at the 34^th IMO session, Greek Shipping and Island Policy Minister Vassilis Kikilias emphasized that “…we respect, support and honor all views within the IMO, with the aim of achieving a safe, sustainable and effective regulatory framework,” while insisting that “every effort must be made to reach a global, common framework within the Organization.”

He also clarified that “we recognize that perhaps no one can achieve 100% of what they seek through such agreements, but every effort must be made to establish a basic, common framework of agreement on which we can all work and strive to find solutions together.”

In echoing Athens’ recent and very high-profile opposition against increasingly a strict regulatory framework for shipping and practically unattainable emissions goals up until 2050 – going against EU-wide policy, in fact – he said that “…a mosaic of different regulatory frameworks and regulations in states, regions and continents can only lead to an extremely difficult environment for international shipping.”

Kikilias emphasized that “80% to 90% of global trade is carried out by sea,” which, as he said, “means that we hold enormous power in our hands,” a reference to the massive Greek-owned merchant shipping fleet, in both numbers and transport capacity.

He said this is accompanied by a responsibility to address “issues of green energy and environmental protection, in tandem with competitiveness and the ability of the average family, around the world, to live in prosperity.”