Did you know that more than 80 percent of our global trade is taken care of through the shipping industry? If you’re like me, up until recently, you probably had no idea.
Many of the goods that we use daily and the items that can be found in shops and in our homes have been brought to us by a ship. The shipping industry offers an affordable and efficient way of getting our goods from point A to point B, meaning that the maritime trade is vital to our global economy.
World Maritime Day is the anniversary of the creation of the International Maritime Organization. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) started in 1948 at an international conference in Geneva under the name of the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization. The organization was officially established on March 17th, 1958 by the United Nations. The original name of the organization was replaced in 1982 in favor of becoming IMO.
This specialized organization was started to help promote the safety of the maritime industry before working towards tackling issues such as pollution and maritime security. IMO is the global standard-setting authority for international shipping and creates the regulations for the shipping industry that are expected to be utilized universally.
World Maritime Day was first celebrated in March of 1978 and is celebrated annually. Eventually, the day was moved to the last Thursday of September. Each year, World Maritime Day brings forth a theme of importance to highlight and educate others on the topic. The theme for 2023 is highlighting the 50th anniversary of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) and is titled “MARPOL at 50 – Our commitment goes on.” This convention covers important regulations regarding the prevention of marine pollution caused by ships both during operation and by accident.
Celebrating World Maritime Day also gives others the opportunity to honor and show appreciation for the international maritime industry and its workers. Life at sea is not an easy one and the best thing one can do for a seafarer is support them in any way that they can.
How do you Celebrate World Maritime Day?
There are a few different ways that you can celebrate World Maritime Day! Here are 5 of my top recommendations.
Learn more about the shipping industry
The shipping industry is a huge one! As mentioned before, it covers more than 80% of our global trade meaning it’s the reason why we have practically everything that we do. Taking the time to learn more about the industry will help lead to learning more about how our global economy works and shows just how much hard work is done in this field. It also helps bring light to important maritime issues that affect us both on land and the issues that affect our seafarers at sea.
Attend maritime events.
See if there are any events nearby that you can attend related to maritime topics. This can be anything from partaking in nautical-based crafts, lectures, and workshops. Whether you attend these events in-person or online is entirely up to you. If you have an interest in our world’s oceans and are curious about maritime history, this is a good way to learn.
Visit maritime museums.
Taking the time to visit a maritime museum or historical sites is a great way to celebrate World Maritime Day. These locations often have events dedicated to World Maritime Day and offer specialized events to attend year-round to help educate on different parts of maritime history. You might find out something interesting or new about the area you live in!
Raise awareness!
The maritime industry is a fascinating one that most people don’t know much about. Have fun looking up interesting facts to share with others and have as interesting trivia for conversations with those you know. The maritime industry has a huge impact on our lives, and it’s important that we’re aware of just how it plays a role in our day to day living.
Support sustainable practices.
Some of the ways you can be more sustainable are by conserving water, reducing waste, using less energy, and respecting our habitats. Even if it doesn’t feel like you’re doing a lot, these little practices add up over time and help create a better environment for our oceans. With the shipping industry working to become more sustainable and environmentally friendly, we should, too!
What are some other ways you can celebrate World Maritime Day?
Volunteer!
Did you know that there are specialized organizations dedicated to caring and ensuring the welfare for seafarers when they’re in port? These special groups, often religious based, are meant to help provide resources and services to provide for the overall wellbeing for seafarers. These services range from emotional to physical and even spiritual needs. These groups also help advocate on behalf of seafarers and their families for whatever needs they might have and help seafarers with continuing education. These groups are often looking for volunteers for their specialized programs and are a great way to get involved within the maritime community!
Support a seafarer.
As I said before, one of the best things someone can do is support a seafarer in whatever way that they can. This is obviously more easily done by the families and friends of seafarers, but the little bits of encouragement a seafarer can get from others make a huge difference. Being away from home for long periods of time, often with moments where no contact is possible, is difficult. A seafarer’s day is extremely busy and exhausting, so being encouraging is helpful. If you can, and you’re close to a seafarer, feel free to ask them what sort of support they need best and do exactly that. I can promise you that they’ll appreciate it.
I hope that you all enjoyed learning more about World Maritime Day! It’s an important day to keep in mind, and especially important for those invested in our oceans in whatever way possible.
Until next time.
With love from abroad,
Cat
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