The following is the text of a news release from the International Maritime Organization:
(LONDON) — On this year’s Day of the Seafarer, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is encouraging young people to consider a career at sea as a viable attractive and enticing career option.
Seafaring offers unique opportunities to navigate the seas of the globe and encounter the wonders of the ocean. It offers the opportunity to experience a world of real adventure on the seas and oceans and to interact with people from all over the world.
At the heart of this year’s campaign is the sharing of seafarer stories. Therefore, IMO invites aspiring and current seafarers, organizations, shipowners, governments, port authorities and general supporters across the world to share their stories about life at sea and to be ambassadors for their own industry.
Maritime professionals are invited to show, on social media, what a career at sea could look like and by doing this, inspire young people. The campaign hashtag is #CareerAtSea.
A virtual photo wall has also been created to invite seafarers to upload photos of their time at sea.
IMO has also posted videos to view and share:
• A short video animation highlighting the exciting possibilities of a career at sea;
• A video message from IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu speaking from the Seaman’s Center at Intramuros, Manila, Philippines, which is the world’s leading supplier of manpower to the global maritime industry.
In his message, Sekimizu called on active and past seafarers to inspire the next generation by sharing their experiences on social media, using the hashtag #CareeratSea.
“On the Day of the Seafarer, I wish to encourage everybody who is already engaged in this vital professional world to reach out to a new generation; tell them about your life and your work; inspire and encourage them to explore for themselves a career at sea or elsewhere in the maritime industries,” Sekimizu said.
“Please, show your support for our campaign, using the resources available on the Day of the Seafarer page on the IMO website; and if you’re on social media, don’t forget to share your experiences using the campaign hashtag #CareeratSea. Together, let us reach out new audiences and inspire a new generation of maritime experts and seafarers,” Sekimizu said.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also highlighted the Day of the Seafarer, noting that demand for shipping is growing along with global population, but that there are fears that in the future, there may be a shortage of seafarers.
“Seafaring opens the door to decent work and unique and enriching experiences. Moreover, in running today’s modern, high-tech vessels, seafarers acquire skills and technical expertise that make them very well qualified for work in many shore-based industries once their sea-going days are over. Seafaring is often an attractive option for people in developing countries,” Ban said.
“On this International Day, I encourage young people to consider seafaring as a career. I also urge those who are a member of the maritime community to share your passion and experiences with young people. And if you are a serving seafarer, today I salute you, thank you for your hard work, and wish you calm seas as you serve the world and make your way home,” Ban said.
Day of the Seafarer background
In 2010, comprehensive revisions to update and revise IMO’s international convention on seafarer training, the STCW Convention, and its associated code, were adopted at a Diplomatic Conference in Manila, Philippines. That conference also agreed that the unique contribution made by seafarers from all over the world to international seaborne trade, the world economy and civil society as a whole, should be marked annually with a Day of the Seafarer. The date chosen was June 25, the day on which the landmark amendments were formally adopted.
