World Maritime Day 2024: Safety First! 

By Pratap Pudi

VP Business Operations & Quality Management

What is World Maritime Day? 

World Maritime Day is a United Nations observance day that was first celebrated on 17 March 1978 to mark the 20th anniversary of the IMO Convention’s entry into force, which established the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) as a specialized agency of the United Nations, responsible for regulating international shipping and promoting maritime safety, security, and environmental protection. 

Later, the observance day was changed to the last Thursday of September. This year, World Maritime Day will be observed on 26 September. 

Purpose of Observing World Maritime Day 

The purpose of observing World Maritime Day is to draw the wider world’s attention to the maritime industry’s critical role in the global economy, and to celebrate the IMO’s role in providing the regulatory framework for the maritime industry. 

Each year, the IMO chooses a theme for World Maritime Day to highlight its work in a specific area. Safety has been at the heart of IMO activities since the Organization was established in 1958. 

This Year’s Theme: “Navigating the Future: Safety First!” 

2024 marks 50 years since the adoption of the 1974 SOLAS Convention, the key IMO treaty regulating maritime safety. Thus, this year’s theme is “Navigating the Future: Safety First!” 

This theme will address various issues relevant to enhancing safety at sea, such as the regulatory framework for the safe reduction of GHG emissions from ships, alternative fuels, new technologies, digitalization and automation, Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS), cybersecurity, and more. The IMO aims to ensure the safety and efficiency of shipping, thus maintaining smooth international trade. 

Initiatives and Celebrations 

The theme is closely linked to the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To commemorate the day, the IMO and the member states are hosting symposiums and high-level panel discussions focused on the theme. Notable landmarks will be lit in blue light, and a special message from the IMO’s secretary-general will be featured. 

To increase visibility, the IMO invites everyone in the maritime industry to celebrate by using the hashtag #WorldMaritimeDay and tagging IMO on social media. 

Bridging the Awareness Gap 

While the role of the IMO in promoting “Safer Shipping, Cleaner Seas” is undeniable, there is a pressing need to enhance the maritime industry’s visibility to the general public. Many people are unaware of World Maritime Day and its significance. 

It’s concerning that a large percentage of seafarers themselves are not widely aware of World Maritime Day or its celebratory activities. The observance is scheduled on a random day of the year, lacking historical significance for both the maritime industry and society at large. 

A Call to Action 

When was the last time we celebrated World Maritime Day on our ship? How many of us have wondered why a building was illuminated in blue on a fine Thursday night in September? How often do we see billboards or posters promoting World Maritime Day in our cities? 

It’s time to renew our efforts to inform the world that the maritime industry is responsible for transporting 80% of global trade and is the least environmentally damaging mode of transport when considering its productive value. 

Taking World Maritime Day to a broader audience is a crucial step in this direction. 

As Rose George aptly said, “The shipping industry may be indispensable, but it’s also invisible. We rely on it utterly but take it utterly for granted.”