Today, 27 November, Sven Sakkov, Estonia’s Ambassador to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), presented his credentials to IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez.
In the discussion following the presentation ceremony, Ambassador Sakkov and Secretary-General Dominguez focused on issues related to maritime safety and the protection of the marine environment.
Ambassador Sakkov underlined the importance of these topics for Estonia: “Above all, ending the proliferation of Russia’s shadow fleet, which, in addition to dubious ownership structures, virtually non-existent insurance and poor seaworthiness, also endangers shipping for all coastal states through GNSS signal jamming and spoofing. Given the fragility of the Baltic Sea ecosystem, an accident involving an oil tanker would have catastrophic consequences.”
The IMO is a United Nations specialised agency that regulates maritime safety and works to prevent marine pollution. Estonia has been a member of the IMO since 1992. With the presentation of credentials, Estonia has appointed a permanent representative to the organisation for the first time.
Kristjan Truu, Deputy Secretary General on Maritime Affairs and Water Resources at the Ministry of Climate, emphasised the strategic importance of maritime affairs and the development of the blue economy for Estonia, given its coastal location. “An active role in international organisations helps us to protect our interests better. The appointment of Estonia’s representative to the International Maritime Organization is a major step in contributing to global maritime safety and supporting sustainable development,” Truu said.
At the IMO’s 34th Assembly in London, member states are discussing the future of shipping, safety, environmental protection and the strengthening of the international maritime legal framework. Estonia has held several bilateral meetings with IMO member states at the Assembly, including discussions with Ukraine on rebuilding its maritime sector. On Friday evening, elections to the organisation’s Council will also take place.
Ambassador Sven Sakkov was born in 1971 in Tartu. He graduated cum laude in history from the University of Tartu in 1995 and earned a master’s degree in international relations from the University of Cambridge in 1997. In 2011–2012, he completed a year-long course at the Royal College of Defence Studies in London. Sakkov has previously served as National Security and Defence Adviser to the President of the Republic (1995–1996) and as Head of the Policy Planning Department at the Ministry of Defence. From 1998 to 2001, he worked at Estonia’s representation to NATO, and from 2006 to 2008 at the Estonian Embassy in Washington DC. Between 2008 and 2015, he was Deputy Secretary General for Defence Policy at the Ministry of Defence, responsible for policy planning, threat assessments, NATO and EU policy, international cooperation, and arms control. From 2015 to 2017, Sakkov headed the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Tallinn, and from 2017 to 2020, the International Centre for Defence and Security. From 2020 to 2025, he served as Estonia’s Ambassador to Finland. Ambassador Sakkov resides in London.
