WORLD MARITIME DAY

What is World Maritime Day

         Every year the International Maritime Organization (IMO) observes World Maritime Day. The exact date is left for individual governments to decide but is normally celebrated during the last week of September. The day is meant to emphasize the importance of shipping safety, maritime security and the marine environment and to focus on a particular aspect of IMO's work.

Background of World Maritime Day

         It has been considered by the people that international regulations that are followed by many countries worldwide, could improve marine safety, hence many treaties have been signed and adopted since the 19th century. Various countries endorsed for a permanent international body to be floated to advocate maritime safety more effectively but it was not until the UN was established that these concepts were realized. An international conference in Geneva in the year 1948 established the IMO, a specialized UN agency that promotes and manages a huge regulatory framework for shipping.

         The IMO’s earlier name was the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO) but it got a facelift in 1982 and was renamed to IMO. The IMO emphasizes on areas such as safety, environmental concerns, technical co-operation, legal matters, maritime security and the proficiency of shipping.

         World Maritime Day was first observed on March 17, 1978 to represent the date of the IMO Convention’s entry into force in the year 1958. At that time, there were 21 member states in the organization. Now it has reached a count of 167 member states and three associate members. This membership includes all the countries of the world with a concern in maritime affairs, along with those engaged in the shipping industry and coastal states with a concern to protect their maritime environment.

World Maritime Day 2011

         2011 World Maritime Day is observed this year during the week of 26 to 30 September and is being celebrated at the International Maritime Organization's Headquarters on Thursday, 29 September 2011.

         The theme for World Maritime Day 2011 is selected to enable IMO not only to focus and intensify its efforts to meet the challenges of modern-day piracy but also to facilitate the orchestration of a broader, global response aimed at eradicating the scourge.  Consequently, the following objectives will be pursued during the year:

• Increase pressure at the political level to secure the immediate release of all hostages being held by pirates – seafarers, in the main;

• Review and improve guidance to the industry and promote full compliance by ships with all recommended preventive, evasive and defensive measures;

• Promote greater levels of support from navies;

• Promote anti-piracy coordination and co-operation between and among States, regions and organizations;

• Build the capacity of States in piracy-infested regions of the world, and elsewhere, to deter, interdict and bring to justice those who commit acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships; and

• Equally importantly, provide care for those attacked or hijacked by pirates and for their families.