International Day of the Seafarer

THE annual International Day of the Seafarer was celebrated on June 25. It was a day dedicated to the men and women who have the sea in their blood, who hear the ocean's siren call and respond unreservedly. They know what Henry Wadsworth Longfellow meant when he said, "My soul is full of longing for the secret of the sea, and the heart of the great ocean sends a thrilling pulse through me."

The maritime industry plays a critical role in global trade, transportation and connectivity. Today, more than ever, safety remains paramount, especially in an era of technological advancements and evolving environmental concerns. The Day of the Seafarer was established in a resolution passed by the 2010 Diplomatic Conference in Manila to adopt the revised STCW Convention. Its purpose is to acknowledge the unique contribution of seafarers to world trade, the world economy and civil society as a whole.