IMO launches “Year of the Seafarer”

14 January 2010

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) “launched” the theme for this year’s World Maritime Day – “2010: Year of the Seafarer” – at an event held at its London headquarters on 11 January 2010, co-hosted with the International Shipping Federation (ISF) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).

Speaking at the event, IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos said 2010 promised to be an auspicious and important year for the seafaring profession, with a diplomatic conference meeting in Manila in June to adopt amendments that will bring the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (the STCW Convention), and its associated Code, fully up to date with today’s expectations.

Mr Mitropoulos said that designating 2010 as the Year of the Seafarer would help to reassure those who work at the “sharp end” of the industry – the seafarers themselves – that those responsible for the international regulatory regime understand the extreme pressures seafarers face and that they approach their task with a genuine sympathy for the work that seafarers carry out.

He said, “Seafarers deserve respect and recognition: let us resolve, during 2010, to ensure that this message is trumpeted loud and clear.”