The Ghana Maritime Authority joins others worldwide today, Thursday, 24th September to celebrate World Maritime Day.
A local event is also expected to be held at the Head Office of the Ghana Maritime Authority at Ridge, Accra, to mark the day.
“Sustainable shipping for a sustainable planet” is the World Maritime theme for 2020.
World Maritime Day is observed on the last week of September on Thursday annually. The event’s date varies by year and country, this year World Maritime Day will be celebrated on September 24, 2020, in the form of an online event due to social distancing measures caused by the pandemic.
World Maritime Day is celebrated every year to focus on the importance of safety, maritime security, and marine environment and to emphasize a particular aspect of the International Maritime Organisation’s work.
World Maritime Day is celebrated in several countries including Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. However, in India National Maritime Day is celebrated on April 5 every year. This year India celebrated its 57th edition of National Maritime Day.
According to the un.org, “Sustainable shipping for a sustainable planet” has been selected as the World Maritime theme for 2020. This will provide an opportunity to raise awareness of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and showcase the work that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and its Member States are undertaking to achieve the targets.
“A Ship without Marines is like a garment without buttons.” -Adm. David Dixon Porter
The theme for the year 2019 World Maritime Day was “Empowering Women in the maritime community”. The theme highlighted the important contribution of women within the maritime sector.
“Every Marine is, first and foremost, a rifleman. All other conditions are secondary.” -Gen. A. M. Gray
On this day, many maritime organizations and unions hold special events and activities to celebrate this day. Some schools even organize a trip to a maritime museum so students can understand the significance of the maritime industry in shaping world history and its importance in world trade. However, this year due to the coronavirus pandemic the celebration will be different.
The day is to celebrate the contribution offered by the industry of international maritime towards the world’s economy, especially in shipping. World Maritime Day was first held in 1978 to mark the 20th anniversary of the IMO Convention’s entry into force.
Every year the International Maritime Organization (IMO) celebrates World Maritime Day.
World Maritime Day is celebrated every year to focus on the importance of safety, maritime security, and marine environment and to emphasize a particular aspect of the International Maritime Organisation’s work.
World Maritime Day is celebrated in several countries including Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. However, in India National Maritime Day is celebrated on April 5 every year. This year India celebrated its 57th edition of National Maritime Day.
Source: Mybrytfmonline/Kofi Atakora
