Our duty to showcase shipping industry’s importance, deputy minister says

“World Maritime Day is a chance to show our appreciation to the unseen heroes who contribute to the ceaseless operation of world trade,” Cyprus Shipping Deputy Minister Vassilios Demetriades said on Thursday.

World Maritime Day is observed annually by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) on the last Thursday of September to salute and honour seafarers around the world.

“Apart from the social concern shown by Cyprus, through the change of crews and the vaccination of thousands of seafarers, it is our duty to also highlight the importance of the seafaring profession through targeted actions,” Demetriades added.

The deputy ministry said in a statement that World Maritime Day aims to underline the vital importance of shipping and the need for safe and environmentally viable maritime trade.

For this year’s edition, the International Maritime Organisation’s chosen theme for World Maritime Day is ‘Seafarers at the core of shipping’s future’, paying tribute to the people who work on marine vessels.

The Deputy Ministry of Shipping will celebrate the day with an event co-hosted with the Limassol Municipality on October 23.

Cyprus is one of the top five ship management centres in the world, with approximately 60 ship management companies in operation with close to 40,000 seafarers being employed by them. Many of these shipping companies are based in Limassol.

More than 20 organisations and institutions involved with the development of the maritime sector in a sustainable way will take part in the event.

In addition, the deputy ministry will also partner with an international association of people working in the transportation sector.

The partnership will see the two bodies coming together for a running event to showcase the importance of seafarers.