William A. O'Neil
O'Neil (second from left) in 2015
6th Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization
In office
January 1, 1990 – December 31, 2003
Preceded byChandrika Prasad Srivastava
Succeeded byEfthymios Mitropoulos
Personal details
Alma materUniversity of Toronto

William A. O'Neil (born June 6, 1927, died October 29, 2020) was a Canadian civil servant who served as Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization and also served as Chancellor of the World Maritime University.[1][2][3][4][5] He was the second-longest serving IMO Secretary-General.[1][2][3]

Early life

O'Neil was born in Ottawa in 1927.[5] In 1949, O'Neil obtained a degree in civil engineering from the University of Toronto.[1]

Career

In his early career, O'Neil worked at the Canadian Department of Transport.[1] From 1975 to 1980, he was Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard.[1] Between 1980 and 1989 he was employed as Chief Executive Officer of the St. Lawrence Seaway.[1] During this period, he also represented Canada on the IMO Council.[1]

In 1990, O'Neil was elected as the 6th Secretary-General of IMO. He served as Secretary-General for three and a half terms until 31 December 2003.[1] In 1991, he became Chancellor of the World Maritime University and Chairman of the Governing Board of the International Maritime Law Institute.[1]

While Secretary-General, the IMO made several major decisions with a large impact on shipping.[3] He helped to address key safety issues in shipping including the safety of bulk carriers, passenger ships and Roll-on/roll-off ferries.[2] He oversaw the adoption of Annex VI of the MARPOL Convention in 1997 as well as the development of the International Safety Management Code.[2] Following the September 11 attacks in 2001, he was also responsible for the IMO approach that led to the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code.[2][3]

O'Neil died on 29 October 2020 at age 93.[2][4] In November 2022, the IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim paid tribute to O'Neil at the IMO, along with the release of a video tribute.[6]

Personal life

O'Neil married Dorothy (nee Muir) in 1950. They had three children: Janice, Kathy & Jeff. He had four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Dorothy passed away in 2007. O'Neil was then married to his second wife.[3][5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "William O'Neil". World Maritime University. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "IMO Secretary-General Emeritus Mr. William A. O'Neil, remembered". International Maritime Organization. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "William O'Neil, former head of IMO, dies at 93". Lloyds List. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  4. 1 2 "Former IMO Sectetary General William O'Neil Dies at 93". Ship and Bunker. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 "Former IMO head William O'Neil dies aged 93". Tradewinds. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  6. ↑ "VIDEO: IMO Sec-Gen Pays Tribute to Late William O'Neil, IMO Secretary-General Emeritus". MarineLink. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
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