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Your voyage -then and now, share your journey

The 25th of June marks the 12th year celebration of the Day of the Seafarers. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) came up with this year’s theme ‘Your voyage -then and now, share your journey’. The IMO are encouraging seafarers to share their personal progress as seafarer throughout the years as well as the changes that the industry has been through during this time.

IMO asks Seafarers to participate by posting two photos on their social media account mainly Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using the hashtag #SeafarerJourney documenting the start of their career and their present role as seafarers. Apart from their personal stories they are also being encouraged to comment on the changes that the shipping industry has experienced throughout their career. Such as improvements in technology and how this has affected them personally, the knowledge gained.

My own maritime journey has enriched my life. It allowed me to gain skills as a seafarer on ships and then to apply that knowledge and experience ashore.

IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim

IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim talks about his own journey

IMO asks Seafarers to participate by posting two photos on their social media account mainly Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using the hashtag #SeafarerJourney documenting the start of their career and their present role as seafarers. Apart from their personal stories they are also being encouraged to comment on the changes that the shipping industry has experienced throughout their career. Such as improvements in technology and how this has affected them personally, the knowledge gained.

“My own maritime journey has enriched my life. It allowed me to gain skills as a seafarer on ships and then to apply that knowledge and experience ashore.” – IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim

IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim talks about his own journey as a Seafarer and how his career in the shipping industry led to his current role. “My own maritime journey has enriched my life. It allowed me to gain skills as a seafarer on ships and then to apply that knowledge and experience ashore.”

He explains how every seafarer’s journey is different and it comes with a variety of challenges. In the past two years Covid-19 and all the pressure that came with it is a clear example. It led to difficulties in crew changes, access to medical care and shore leave. It is important to recognize the hard work of those in the maritime industry and the daily efforts from seafarers but especially on the 25th of June. The IMO is pushing states to recognize seafarers as key workers to facilitate their journey and their voyages across the world.

The main scope of the ‘International day of the Seafarers’ since its inception has been to appreciate the work of the seafarers that are so critical to the shipping industry which drives the economy and provides us with food, medicine, electronics and so many other supplies. Seafarers and the shipping industry are incredibly important to countries like Malta that depend so heavily on importation.

IMO recognizes and promotes the industry’s journey towards a more sustainable and greener shipping industry. This another challenge that the industry is facing but an important one to ensure sustainability for the future. Gollcher has staff with valuable sea experience and knows all too well the importance of Seafarers and the critical roles they play.

Day of the Seafarer 2022