“We greatly appreciate the presence of Filipino seafarers in global shipping,” says IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim. He joins the Filipino seafarers in celebrating the International Day of the Seafarer and the Day of the Filipino Seafarer at the same time at Function Rooms 4 and 5 of the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, Manila, today, 25 June 1016.
JUNE 25 is observed worldwide as the Day of the Seafarer; it is also the Day of the Filipino Seafarer.
In 2010, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), designated June 25th as the International Day of the Seafarer as a way to acknowledge the unique contribution made by seafarers to international seaborne trade, the world economy and to global society as a whole. Also, President Benigno Aquino III signed Proclamation No. 183 declaring June 25 of every year as the “Day of the Filipino Seafarer” on 3 June 2011.
This year’s event celebrates the incredible impact that Seafarers make for the world.
First celebrated in 2011, following its establishment by a resolution adopted by the Conference of Parties to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), held in Manila, Philippines, in June 2010, which adopted major revisions to the STCW Convention and Code, the International Day of the Seafarer is now included in the annual list of United Nations Observances.
“At Sea For All”, the theme for IMO’s Day of the Seafarer campaign is linked with the 2016 World Maritime Day theme, “Shipping: indispensable to the world”, emphasizing that seafarers serve at sea not just for the shipping industry or for their own career purposes but for all of us – and, consequently, they are also “indispensable to the world”. The day also aims to bring global attention to the issues affecting their work and lives, such as piracy. It calls on governments to develop policies that lead to fair treatment of seafarers at ports, and asks private ship companies and owners to provide their employees proper facilities and comforts while they are at sea.
According to IMO estimates, ships transport almost 90 percent of the world’s goods trade. Seafarers are not only responsible for the operations of such ships, but are also responsible for the safe and smooth delivery of the cargo.
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