General Assembly Rio Colloquium 15 May 2026
The CMI General Assembly was held on 15 May 2026 at the Windsor Barra Hotel in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), the venue of the 2026 CMI Colloquium. The Assembly was attended by delegates of thirty eight of the maritime law associations and was opened by the CMI President, Ms. Ann Fenech. After approving the credentials of the delegates and installing the session, The Assembly heard the President’s report highlighting the main activities and initiatives of the CMI management since last year’s Assembly, in particular successful efforts that led to the entry into force of the Beijing Convention on the Judicial Sale of Ships on 17 February 2026. The Assembly then heard eulogies in the memory of two long-time members and supporters of the CMI, Messrs. Paul Gill and Bent Nielsen.
The Assembly heard and approved the Treasurer’s report and Charitable trust report. The Assembly approved the nomination of four new titulary members (Ms. Aleka Sheppard and Messrs. Phillip Buhler, Pietro Palandri and Pierangelo Cele). The Assembly welcomed the Maritime Law Association of the Dominican Republic as a new member, as well as Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA International) and the Admiralty Solicitors Group UK as consultative members. The Assembly much regretted having to officialize – by a majority vote – the expulsion of the Maritime Law Associations of Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Corea in accordance with Article 8 of the CMI Constitution for continued default in payment of subscriptions due to the Committee, despite all efforts made by the CMI to regularize their situation. The Assembly heard a report on the preparations for the CMI Conference to be held in Valencia (Spain) in the second quarter of 2027 and proceeded to hear the reports of various working groups and standing committees.
The Assembly heard a presentation by Diana Liashenko, winner of the 2025 yCMI Essay Prize, Pietro Vicedomini, winner of the 2025 IMLI Prize for Best Overall Performance and heard the announcement of the 2026 yCMI Prize Winner, [insert name].
Reverting to institutional matters, the Assembly appointed Mr. José Angelo Estrella Faria as new Secretary-General to succeed Ms. Rosalie Balkin, and Mr. Peter Laurijssen as new Administrator to success Mr. Lawrence Teh. The Assembly elected Mr. Gen Goto (Japan) as member of the CMI Executive Council (EXCO) reconducted Mr. Francis X. Nolan (USA) for a second term as EXCO member. In keeping with a long-standing tradition, at the closing of the Assembly, the Brazilian Maritime Law Association, whose efforts in the outstanding organization of the 2026 Colloquium were highly praised by the Assembly, handed over CMI flag to the Spanish Maritima Law Association, which will host the 2026 CMI Assembly.