Posted:
February 25, 2010
International Maritime Organization Secretary-General E.E. Mitropoulos has issued the following letter, dated Feb. 19, intended as a communication to mariners around the world.
With the full support of its Member Governments and the maritime community at large, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) decided, last year, to dedicate this year to you by choosing, as the theme for World Maritime Day, “2010: Year of the Seafarer.”
Our aim is to pay tribute to you, the world's 1.5 million seafarers -- men and women from all over the globe -- for the unique, and all-too-often overlooked, contribution you make to the wellbeing of all of us.
We do so with deep appreciation of the extraordinary services you render every day of your professional life, frequently under much demanding and extremely dangerous circumstances.
All of us involved in shipping are ever conscious of the indispensable role you play in helping to achieve safe, secure and efficient shipping on clean oceans -- the goals that IMO, as the United Nations specialized agency charged with the regulation of international shipping, has set for itself and for the industry you serve so well.
And so, we celebrate this year's World Maritime Day theme with much pride in your contribution to our common objectives, to the carriage of more than 90% of world trade, and to sustainable development in many respects.
Last, but most importantly, we want to leave you in no doubt that the entire maritime community understands the extraordinary circumstances that are associated with the seafaring profession and does care about you. Evidence of this can be found in the efforts we make to ensure that you are fairly treated when ships on which you serve become involved in accidents; are looked after when you are abandoned in ports; are not refused shore leave for security purposes; are protected when your work takes you into piracy-infested areas; and are not left unaided when you are in distress at sea.
To show you our respect, recognition and gratitude, we are carrying out, throughout 2010, a wide range of activities to promote and celebrate your “Year” in partnership with all the organizations that represent the many facets of the vibrant and invaluable industry that is shipping.
We want the world to take notice of the remarkable contribution you make to international trade, the world economy and civil society at large and of the special debt that all of us owe to you.
And we hope that you too will participate in that worldwide effort by also celebrating and taking pride in this, the year dedicated to you.
IMO pays tribute to mariners around the world
International Maritime Organization Secretary-General E.E. Mitropoulos has issued the following letter, dated Feb. 19, intended as a communication to mariners around the world.
With the full support of its Member Governments and the maritime community at large, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) decided, last year, to dedicate this year to you by choosing, as the theme for World Maritime Day, “2010: Year of the Seafarer.”
Our aim is to pay tribute to you, the world's 1.5 million seafarers -- men and women from all over the globe -- for the unique, and all-too-often overlooked, contribution you make to the wellbeing of all of us.
We do so with deep appreciation of the extraordinary services you render every day of your professional life, frequently under much demanding and extremely dangerous circumstances.
All of us involved in shipping are ever conscious of the indispensable role you play in helping to achieve safe, secure and efficient shipping on clean oceans -- the goals that IMO, as the United Nations specialized agency charged with the regulation of international shipping, has set for itself and for the industry you serve so well.
And so, we celebrate this year's World Maritime Day theme with much pride in your contribution to our common objectives, to the carriage of more than 90% of world trade, and to sustainable development in many respects.
Last, but most importantly, we want to leave you in no doubt that the entire maritime community understands the extraordinary circumstances that are associated with the seafaring profession and does care about you. Evidence of this can be found in the efforts we make to ensure that you are fairly treated when ships on which you serve become involved in accidents; are looked after when you are abandoned in ports; are not refused shore leave for security purposes; are protected when your work takes you into piracy-infested areas; and are not left unaided when you are in distress at sea.
To show you our respect, recognition and gratitude, we are carrying out, throughout 2010, a wide range of activities to promote and celebrate your “Year” in partnership with all the organizations that represent the many facets of the vibrant and invaluable industry that is shipping.
We want the world to take notice of the remarkable contribution you make to international trade, the world economy and civil society at large and of the special debt that all of us owe to you.
And we hope that you too will participate in that worldwide effort by also celebrating and taking pride in this, the year dedicated to you.