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World Maritime Day
Overview
Approximately 90 per cent of global trade is carried by the international shipping industry. While shipping contributes greatly to the economic well being of those countries involved in this industry, there is potential for significant environmental impact from everyday vessel operation and the risks posed by the very nature of the business.
Every year, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) celebrates World Maritime Day (WMD) to focus attention on the importance of shipping safety, maritime security and the marine environment, and to emphasize a particular aspect of IMO's work.
2007 marked the first time that Canada celebrated the day in an official way with an national awareness campaign and a trivia contest. To celebrate WMD 2008, Transport Canada Safety and Security organized a national Maritime Symposium that highlighted specific areas of the work that Canada is undertaking in conjunction with the IMO. To find out more about this event, please view the Symposium Program at a glance.
In 2009, Canada recognized WMD by participating in the official Parallel Event that was hosted by the United States Coast Guard and took place from October 16 to 18 in New York City. For more information on this event, please consult the 2009 World Maritime Day Parallel Event website.
In 2010, WMD was celebrated worldwide on Thursday, September 23. The theme was "2010: Year of the Seafarer". Please refer to the IMO Circular (PDF file, 110 kB) for details. Transport Canada participated in the World Maritime Day Observance Event that was organized by the North American Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) in Vancouver on November 18. This event focused on such issues as environmental pollution, oil spill preparedness and response, and seafarer matters. Visit the NAMEPA site for further information.
The theme for this year's WMD is "Piracy: orchestrating the response".
