IMO takes stock of the Year of the Seafarer
A meeting convened by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London on 16 July took stock of the current Year of the Seafarer, which is now halfway through. The meeting, attended by representatives of the shipping industry, including the ITF, also considered plans to mark the 2011 World Maritime Day, which is on the theme of Piracy: orchestrating the response.
The aims of the Year of the Seafarer are to:
- increase public awareness of the role of the seafarer in international trade and civil society
- highlight concern about issues facing seafarers (including fair treatment in the event of a maritime accident, piracy, abandonment in foreign ports and denial of shore leave)
- make progress in regulations for matters affecting seafarers.
Participants welcomed the actions taken so far, and pledged to continue to promote the objectives of the Year of the Seafarer.
Source: ITF