With the theme “Seafarers at the core of shipping’s future”, the Paradip Port Trust (PPT) observed the 44th World Maritime Day on Tuesday.
Unlike the National Maritime Day, there is no fixed date of celebration of the World Maritime Day. But generally, it is celebrated in last week of September and it depends on the individual Governments to decide a suitable date for celebration during the week.
The Government of India’s Shipping DG decided to celebrate the day on September 28 this year. At the PPT, Harbour Master Capt AC Sahu hoisted the World Maritime Day flag at the Marine Site office in the presence of students of the Orissa Maritime Academy. The significance of the day is to emphasise the importance of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for the maritime sector and to highlight its contribution towards maritime security and marine environment.It can be explained that the day is celebrated for carrying out commercial sea transport in a safe, secured and environment- friendly manner for economic growth of world. The first celebration of the day was held on March 17, 1978 to mark the occasion of enforcing first convention of IMO in 1958; and since then, every year, during last week of September, the day is observed globally.