‘As the World Maritime Day theme for 2016 so rightly acknowledges, shipping is indispensable to the world – and is set to remain central to world economic growth as we make the inevitable transition towards an era of clean and sustainable development,‘ said IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim in his annual World Maritime Day Message on 29 September.

Shipping is indispensable to the world. That is the message being shared around the world on 29 September as IMO and the global maritime community celebrated the annual World Maritime Day.

World Maritime Day is an official United Nations day. Every year, it provides an opportunity to focus attention on the importance of shipping and other maritime activities and to emphasize a particular aspect of IMO’s work.