On 30 September, maritime enthusiasts and businesses will take a moment to reflect on the industry on World Shipping Day.

This year’s theme is Seafarers: at the core of shipping’s future and will raise awareness of seafarers’ vital role and to increase their visibility.

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is launching an online campaign which will focus on a seafarer’s profile every quarter, sharing their points of view on general issues and specific topics.

Organisation stakeholders and the general public will be invited to engage on social media by using the hashtag #WorldMaritimeTheme and comment on these posts with their thoughts towards the questions posed to each seafarer.

IMO Secretary-General, Kitack Lim shared a message urging the public and governments across the world to support the professionals involved in global trade.

“The development of various vaccines offers the first gleams of hope, although for many seafarers, the situation is still desperate. Hundreds of thousands cannot leave ships; whilst many others cannot join. Abandonment of seafarers reached record levels in 2020. This humanitarian crisis threatens global trade and safe navigation,” he said.

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“We all must do better to support our brave professionals who continue to deliver global trade. The dedication and professionalism of more than one and a half million seafarers worldwide deserve our great admiration and gratitude – but most importantly, immediate action.”

Mr Lim stressed that Government need to take the first step in making sure that seafarers are afforded safe working environment by designate them as key workers “as outlined in the United Nations General Assembly Resolution adopted in December”.

“To date, just over 50 IMO Member States have done so. Key worker designation is crucial to ensure prioritisation for vaccination…IMO stands ready to work with all stakeholders on these emerging issues,” he continued.

The IMO Secretary-General also pointed to other concerning variables in seafarer safety, including piracy incidents which have been “costing lives and traumatising many more who have been held hostage or are still in the hands of their attackers”.

“This year, we want to shine a light on the significance of the human element to the safety of life on board ships and the importance of ensuring an appropriately trained and qualified future workforce, ready to meet the challenges and opportunities of digitalisation and automation. We will also place a special focus on seafarersʹ well-being, an area highlighted by the plight of seafarers during the COVID pandemic,” Mr Lim said.

The IMO has a programme of events in the works and you can keep up to date with them at www.imo.org.