New Director Chosen for IMO International Maritime Law Institute

Professor Norman A. Martínez Gutiérrez (right) has been appointed to succeed Professor David Attard (left) as the new Director of the IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI), based in Malta. Photo: International Maritime Organization.

Professor Norman A. Martínez Gutiérrez has been appointed to succeed Professor David Attard as the new Director of the IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI), based in Malta, the International Maritime Organization revealed July 7. Attard has been IMLI Director for the past 30 years.

The announcement was made by IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim during IMLI’s Graduation ceremony on July 1. It is expected that Professor Martínez will take the reins of the Institute on Aug. 1.

The IMO International Maritime Law Institute was established in 1988, under the auspices of IMO. The Institute’s mission is to enhance capacity-building in all countries, particularly developing one, to contribute to the fulfilment of the IMO objectives thereby promoting safe, secure, environmentally sound, efficient and sustainable shipping through cooperation.

This is accomplished by delivering legal training and the dissemination of knowledge conducive to the development of expertise in all aspects of international maritime law as well as in legislative drafting techniques aimed at incorporating international maritime instruments into national law.

Through its work, the Institute contributes to the effective implementation and enforcement of the vast body of rules and regulations developed under the aegis of IMO. IMLI was the first UN body to include in its statute a requirement that 50% of its places be reserved for women.

Martínez Gutiérrez has been lecturing in international law and maritime law more than 25 years.

In 1997 he was engaged by the Honduran General Directorate of the Merchant Marine where he occupied different posts. In 1998 he obtained a Master of Laws (LL.M.) Degree with Distinction from IMLI, where his research on delimitation of maritime boundaries was awarded the IMO Secretary-General’s Prize for Best Dissertation.

He joined the faculty of IMLI in 1999, where he has been the most senior officer after the director for more than 10 years, according to the IMO.