Maritime News

World Maritime Day 2015 Theme Set

The International Maritime Organizations (IMO) announced that “Maritime Education and Training,” is the year’s World Maritime Day theme, with seafarers playing a major role in the global economy.

The IMO secretary general, Mr. Koji Sekimizu said that this theme is very appropriate considering that maritime education and training was important for the long term sustainability of the sector, both at sea and on-shore.

Around 450,000 are Filipinos of the estimated 1.2 million-strong seafarer force.

Mr. Sekimizu said, “Effective standards of training remain the bedrock of a safe and secure shipping industry, which needs to preserve the quality, practical skills and competence of qualified human resources.”

Mr. Sekimizu added that this year’s theme gave the chance to highlight the significance to everyone, not just inside the shipping industry, of their being adequate quantity and quality maritime education and training available to meet the sector’s needs, now and into the future.

He also added,” The 1978 STCW Convention and Code, as amended, have set the international benchmark for the training and education of seafarers. While compliance with its standards is essential for serving on board ships, the skills and competence of seafarers, and indeed, the human element ashore, can only be adequately underpinned, updated and maintained through effective maritime education and training.”