With the aim of strengthening technical cooperation and maritime governance in Central America, the Central American Maritime Transport Commission (COCATRAM) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) held a workshop on the key thematic priorities of the IMO and future planning for technical cooperation in Managua, Nicaragua, from October 15 to 17.
The meeting brought together the heads of the Central American Maritime Authorities (ROCRAM-CA), who collaborated to align their national priorities with the IMO’s upcoming Integrated Technical Cooperation Program (ITCP) for 2026–2027. They also worked to strengthen regional collaboration mechanisms promoted by COCATRAM and the IMO.
The opening session featured presentations by Otto Noack Sierra, Executive Director of COCATRAM and Technical Secretary of ROCRAM-CA; Manuel Mora Ortiz, Director General of Water Transport of Nicaragua; and Carlos Salgado, Head of the Latin America and Caribbean Section of the IMO’s Technical Cooperation and Implementation Division.
During the three-day workshop, participants analyzed the IMO Thematic Approach, which was approved by the Technical Cooperation Committee (TCC 75) and promotes results-based management and evaluation using performance indicators. The sessions, led by Carlos Salgado (IMO-ITCP), were conducted by IMO consultants Roberto Tomás Annichini (Argentina) and Mauricio Riquelme (Chile), who guided the technical and practical activities with the maritime authorities.
The work mainly focused on analyzing and applying the guidelines that will serve as the basis for formulating a Regional Technical Assistance Plan. This plan is based on the 11 strategic pillars of the ITCP. These pillars include maritime safety and security, marine environment protection, climate action, maritime trade facilitation, compliance through IMSAS, and gender equality.
“Our goal was to help maritime administrations adopt the IMO’s new thematic approach and promote more strategic, collaborative planning that yields concrete results for the Central American region,” said Roberto Tomás Annichini, IMO consultant.
A roundtable workshop was held where participants discussed national maritime challenges, identified shared priorities, and suggested strategies for regional alignment. The workshop included group activities, cross-cutting participatory approaches, and presentations of joint proposals reflecting the states’ commitment to regional cooperation.
Progress was also made during the sessions on the proposal for a post-IMSAS management model. This model is designed to establish a systematic process to facilitate the implementation and monitoring of corrective action plans (CAPs) after the first cycle of audits. The model incorporates planning tools, such as KPIs and OKRs, to enable measurement of progress and ensure the sustainability of results.
“It was encouraging to see the commitment and leadership of the region’s maritime authorities. This enthusiasm motivates us to continue supporting Central American countries as they strive for safer, more efficient, and more sustainable maritime development,” said IMO consultant Mauricio Riquelme.
The consultants agreed that the administrations’ active participation and collaborative spirit demonstrated during the seminar represent a firm step towards consolidating a shared regional maritime vision.
Similarly, the meeting emphasized the crucial role of the strategic alliance between the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Central American Commision for Maritime Transportation (COCATRAM) in facilitating collective action in the areas of maritime safety, environmental protection, and the sustainable development of the maritime sector in Central America.
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