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World Maritime Day 2021

World Maritime Day 2021

The 30th of September commemorates the World Maritime Day. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO), which is the organising body for such memorial entitled the 2021 year’s theme as ‘Seafarers: at the core of Shipping’s Future’.

IMO Secretary-General, Kitack Lim, in fact emphasised that even though the vaccination programme is offering a glimmer of hope to seafarers, the situation is still quite desperate, with hundreds of thousands of seafarers who either can’t leave ships, or else cannot join. This ‘humanitarian crisis’ threatens global trade and safe navigation. Governments are therefore urged to recognise seafarers as Key workers, giving them priority in their vaccination programmes.

In the coming year the World Maritime Theme will highlight other issues, related to the human element such as safety, and security. Seafarers in fact face piracy incidents which could be deadly. Well-being, training, and qualifications relating to digitalization and automation are also on this year’s agenda

To commemorate this the IMO building will today lit in a blue light to honour the vital role of seafarers, a symbolic gesture that will happen yearly. IMO is also encouraging Member States to join in this initiative by lighting up their buildings, bridges, ports, monuments, ships and museums amongst others.

An online webinar is being organised on September 30th at 12:00 BST via Microsoft Teams Live. Access is available via this link.

Social media participation is encouraged, using the hashtag #WorldMaritimeDay.

World Maritime Day
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