There were events to celebrate the International Day of the Seafarer, 25 June, throughout the world.
This year’s event, organised by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), was on the theme of gender equality, linked to the slogan of the forthcoming World Maritime Day - "Empowering Women in the Maritime Community". The IMO campaign has centred on social media, including use of the hashtag # IAmOnBoard to promote the gender equality campaign and for people to show their solidarity. The campaign is also being promoted through three Day of the Seafarer champions – women captains and pilots in Kenya, USA and Canada. The IMO is asking supporters to share their thoughts on a virtual wall at: https://dayoftheseafarer.imo.org/2019/
In Europe, the European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF) is working with the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) to encourage more women to join the seafaring profession through promoting equal opportunities and making the industry a more attractive and safer workplace for women.
In Australia, Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) national secretary and ITF president Paddy Crumlin praised the hard work of seafarers in the country’s success: “Without seafarers, Australia’s economy and society would collapse overnight … All too often, the public and even politicians forget that this small band of dedicated seafarers are responsible for keeping our island nation operating.”
He added that the International Day of the Seafarer was also a call to action to halt the continued loss of Australian flag vessels under recent governments.
Post new comment