Saturday 25 June marked the International Day of the Seafarer, recognising the contribution that the humble seafarer makes to our everyday lives. Seafarers are required to carry out their duties in a constantly changing, challenging and often dangerous environment, in order that the lifeblood of our economy and international trade continues to flow.
This year’s theme is “At Sea For All”. You can follow the IMO’s social medial campaign through hashtag #AtSeaForAll
The theme links closely with the 2016 World Maritime Day theme, “Shipping: indispensable to the world”. Seafarers are essential to global trade, they enable the shipping industry, which in turn enables international commerce. Seafarers are indeed indispensable.
In Australia around 5,000 ships crewed by 100,000 seafarers, make nearly 30,000 port calls each year, carrying our exports, and bring you the products that you take for granted – have a look around you, almost everything you wear, carry and use comes by sea.
Shipping Australia encourages you to learn about what seafarers do, visit the IMO’s “day of the seafarer” webpage, and help spread the word on what seafarers mean to you.
