Arsenio Dominguez, the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), has released a video message on this year’s World Maritime Day theme, Navigating the future: safety first!.
IMO selected Navigating the future: safety first! as the 2024 World Maritime Theme, which will culminate in the celebration of World Maritime Day on 26 September 2024. According to the organization, this theme was chosen to promote maritime safety in an era of new technologies and alternative fuels.
The theme also reflects IMO’s work to enhance maritime safety and security, in tandem with the protection of the marine environment, whilst ensuring its regulatory development process safely anticipates the fast pace of technological change and innovation. Furthermore, 2024 marks 50 years since the adoption of the 1974 SOLAS Convention, the key IMO treaty regulating maritime safety.
What is the World Maritime Day?
World Maritime Day is an annual event observed on the last Thursday of September to celebrate the maritime industry’s contribution to global trade and the world economy. It highlights the importance of shipping safety, maritime security, and the marine environment.
Each year, a theme is chosen to focus on specific aspects of the maritime industry. World Maritime Day serves as an opportunity for governments, maritime organizations, industry stakeholders, and the public to raise awareness about maritime issues, discuss challenges facing the sector, and promote sustainable practices in shipping.
In view of the theme, the Secretary General chose to navigate the harsh Arctic waters of Finland to highlight that even the the most adverse conditions, maritime trade prevails, and IMO’s regulations aid greatly in ensuring that.
