On the morning of May 26th, Dorota Lost-Sieminska, Director of the Legal Affairs and External Relations Division at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), along with Andrea Garcia, Head of the External Relations Office, visited Dalian Maritime University. President Shan Hongjun met with the delegation.

President Shan Hongjun extended a warm welcome to Dorota Lost-Sieminska and her delegation. He provided a detailed introduction to the university’s distinctive strengths, international exchange and cooperation efforts, and talent cultivation practices. He noted that Dalian Maritime University has long played an active and constructive role in the work of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations such as the IMO and the International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU). Looking ahead, the university will further leverage its strengths in legal education, research, and talent cultivation to fully support the IMO’s legal affairs—particularly the work of the Legal Committee—and contribute to the advancement of international maritime law.

Dorota Lost-Sieminska expressed her appreciation for the university’s warm hospitality and provided an overview of the core structure and functions of the IMO’s Legal Affairs and External Relations Division, as well as the key issues currently under discussion by the IMO Legal Committee. She spoke highly of Dalian Maritime University’s longstanding and active engagement in IMO affairs and expressed her hope for deeper collaboration in the future—particularly in areas such as talent cultivation, rule-making, and technological innovation.

On the afternoon of the same day, Dalian Maritime University hosted a special lecture titled Introduction to the International Maritime Organization at the Ling Shui International Conference Center in the Administration Building. The event was chaired by Zeng Qingcheng, Vice President of DMU. Dorota Lost-Sieminska gave a comprehensive presentation on the IMO’s organizational structure and its role in global maritime governance, while Andrea Garcia provided a detailed introduction to the IMO Internship Programme. The event sparked lively discussion, with faculty and students engaging in in-depth exchanges with the visiting guests on key international maritime issues.

Later, Dorota Lost-Sieminska delivered a lecture titled The Treaty-Making Process of the International Maritime Organization at the School of Law, hosted by Dean Zhu Zuoxian. Focusing on the IMO’s role in drafting international conventions, she explained key stages of the process, including proposal submission, committee deliberation, drafting, and voting procedures, as well as the mechanisms for amending treaties that have come into force. The lecture offered invaluable insights and practical experiences to the faculty and students.

During their visit, Dorota Lost-Sieminska and her delegation toured the university’s library, the Maritime Education Museum, and the university’s training vessels Yukun and Xin Hongzhuan. They also engaged in discussions with faculty members and students on board.