The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration on behalf of the Cook Islands Government, extends a very warm welcome to our Alternate Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Rafael Lopez, who joins Captain Ian Finley at the Cook Islands Permanent Mission to the IMO.
We are especially pleased that Rafael has been formally welcomed by IMO Secretary-General Mr. Arsenio Dominguez. This proud moment reflects the Cook Islands’ continued commitment to active and constructive engagement in global maritime governance.
Rafael is a naval engineer with over five years of experience at the IMO, where he served as Technical Advisor to the Panama Maritime Authority. He led negotiations on decarbonisation, alternative fuels, maritime safety, and environmental protection, representing his delegation across IMO committees and working groups. His contributions include amendments to MARPOL, SOLAS, and the IMO Net-Zero Framework. Rafael brings deep expertise in regulatory strategy, performance monitoring, and multilateral diplomacy.
Fluent in Spanish, English, and French, and holding an MSc in Naval Hydrodynamics, Rafael adds technical depth and strategic insight to our mission at a critical time for the global maritime sector.
We look forward to his contributions in advancing the Cook Islands’ priorities within the International Maritime Organization.