Candidates are already lining-up to replace International Maritime Organisation Secretary-general Efthimios Mitropoulos when he steps down at the end of next year.

The Philippines is nominating Neil Ferrer, Chairman of the Maritime Safety Committee; Cyprus has nominated Andreas Chrysostomou, Chairman of the IMO??s Marine Environment Protection Committee; Japan's choice is Koji Sekimizu, Director of the IMO Safety Division; and it is reported that Monica Mbanefo of Nigeria and Lee-Sik Chai of Korea will also be candidates.