World Maritime Day 2021: Focus on seafarers

On 30 September 2021, IMO and the global maritime community celebrate the annual World Maritime Day, with a focus on this year’s theme: “Seafarers: At the core of shipping’s future”.

World Maritime Day is an annual initiative to unite the maritime community and raise awareness of the vital contribution of shipping to the world.  IBIA is proud to be part of this community.

“Shipping drives world trade and that trade simply does not happen without seafarers. While the challenges of automation and digitalization – not to mention decarbonization – will drive change in shipping, we will always need well-trained and motivated seafarers. We must ensure a diverse and expert workforce for the ships of the twenty-first century and beyond,” said IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim.  

The 2021 theme was chosen as part of a year of action for seafarers, who play a vital role as key workers for global supply chains but are facing unprecedented hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

IBIA is fully behind these efforts.

Earlier this year, IBIA joined over 500 signatories to the Neptune Declaration on Seafarer Wellbeing and Crew Change. IBIA is also a co-sponsor of a submission to the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee urging IMO Member States and relevant authorities to commit to improving the plight of seafarers by recognising them as key workers and ensure they get priority access to vaccines, medical care and facilitation of travel to enable crew changes.

This year IMO will launch a new annual initiative to unite the maritime community and raise awareness of the vital contribution of shipping to the world by bathing the IMO building in blue light on World Maritime Day. The Memorial to Seafarers, which was inaugurated 20 years ago in 2001, will be lit up at sunset, along with the IMO emblem on the building.

IBIA’s Director, Unni Einemo, has been invited to attend a reception at the IMO’s London HQ to celebrate World Maritime Day 2021.