It’s that time of year again. No, not Fall, not the run up to Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas (all depending on where in the world you are and what you celebrate, of course.) No, it’s that day we can all get behind - it’s World Maritime Day.
If you’re a regular reader of the Martide blog, you’ll know that we always publish a new post each Tuesday and Thursday - which is great timing because today, September 28th, is actually World Maritime Day.
But if you’re new to the maritime world, you might be wondering what World Maritime Day is and why it’s celebrated. We’re here to answer your questions.
What is World Maritime Day?
World Maritime Day is celebrated on September 28th every year in order to recognize the importance of the maritime industry to the global economy. It is also used as a means of promoting sustainable shipping practices.
And this year is a particularly important year for the day as MARPOL (The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships) celebrates its 50th birthday.
Yes, all the way back in 1973, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted the convention, with it becoming protocol in 1978. As such, the theme for 2023 is "MARPOL at 50: Our commitment goes on."
Sustainability in the maritime industry
So with this year's theme marking the 50th anniversary of MARPOL it makes sense that sustainability in shipping is at the forefront. As nations strive to become net zero by certain timelines, the maritime industry has a big part to play in helping to make that happen.
Read more: World Maritime Day 2021
MARPOL is the most comprehensive global treaty regulating pollution from ships and has been instrumental in reducing pollution from shipping and in protecting the marine environment.
We all know that the maritime industry plays a vital role in the global economy, transporting over 90% of all goods traded internationally. And it also provides jobs for millions of people around the world, both onboard the global fleet of commercial vessels and ashore.
However, shipping can also have a negative impact on the environment, through the release of air pollutants and greenhouse gasses, as well as the discharge of wastewater and oil.
World Maritime Day is, therefore, an excellent opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of sustainable shipping and to celebrate the efforts of the maritime industry to reduce its environmental impact.
And it goes without saying that it is also a day to recognize the hard work and dedication of seafarers, who play a vital role in keeping the world's trade moving.
How can you celebrate World Maritime Day?
There are a number of ways to celebrate World Maritime Day, whether you’re a seafarer, someone who works in the maritime industry in a shore-based job, someone who is interested in all things maritime, or someone who is passionate about green issues and sustainability.
Read more: World Maritime Day 2022
There are plenty of great resources out there to enable you to learn more about the maritime industry and its importance to the global economy. Even our very own blog has numerous articles on topics as varied as life at sea, technology in the maritime industry, and the shipping industry itself.
You might also like to show your support for organizations that are working to protect the marine environment and who promote sustainable shipping practices.
And if you’re near the ocean, you could even visit a port, lighthouse or maritime museum - some may even have World Maritime Day events organized.
Here are a few more ideas for how to celebrate World Maritime Day 2023:
- Learn more about the MARPOL Convention and its importance in protecting the marine environment.
- Support organizations that are working to promote sustainable shipping practices, such as the Clean Shipping Coalition and the World Wildlife Fund.
- Share information about World Maritime Day on social media and encourage your friends and family to learn more - don’t forget to use the hashtag #WorldMaritimeDay
- Check out the IMO’s guide to World Maritime Day to find out more.
By celebrating World Maritime Day, we can all do our part to raise awareness of the importance of the maritime industry and the role it has to play in protecting the marine environment.
And we can also recognize the hard work and dedication of seafarers who spend months away from their friends and families ashore to keep the world's trade moving and us equipped with the food, tools, fuel, clothing, cars and technology that we depend on to live and work.
Happy World Maritime Day from all of us here at Martide!
Eve Church
Eve is Martide's content writer, publishing regular posts on everything from our maritime recruitment and crew planning software to life at sea. Eve has been writing professionally for more than two decades, crafting everything from SEO-focused blog posts and website landing pages to magazine articles and corporate whitepapers.
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