World Maritime Day | 2017
This year’s World Maritime Day theme is “Connecting Ships, Ports and People”. It was chosen to highlight and to put added focus on the numerous diverse characters involved in logistics and shipping.
28th September 2017 is the official date set for this year’s celebration with member states and other shipping bodies invited to the celebrations which run for the remainder of this week and will continue throughout the year.
The entire maritime sector is getting involved in this year’s celebrations. These include shipping companies, ports and the people who operate them. There is a significant focus on helping Member States create conditions for expanding employment opportunities, benefits, wealth and stability onshore by advocating trade using shipping; augmenting port and maritime sectors as employers both on land and by establishing a sustainable blue economy, on the sea.
The main aim of this year’s theme is to build and continue on from last year’s focus, “Shipping: indispensable to the world”. This will be done by concentrating on assisting IMO (International Maritime Organization) Member States in advancing and applying maritime strategies to invest in a coherent approach that confronts the complete range of issues facing the industry including, maritime security, navigational safety and environmental protection.
In turn, by doing this, the IMO are contributing to accomplishing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals have been put in place in response to the multitude of challenges which world is facing on a day to day basis. Examples being, an increasing world population, threats to food supplies, global warming, environmental threats and the unsustainable exploitation of the world’s natural resources, hazards being experienced by societies because of organised criminals gangs and violent extremists, worldwide uncertainty and instability which is contributing to mass migration.
The IMO strongly believe that, a major driver towards global stability is more competent and sustainable shipping industry which works in partnership with port sectors who are backed by local governments.
Find out more on the International Maritime Organization’s webpage.