Year of the Seafarer recognition

Captains,

I attended this year's World Maritime Day observance in Vancouver, hosted by NAMEPA, Teekay Shipping, Chamber of Shipping of BC, and Transport Canada. The event was a big success.

In the words of Secretary General Mitropoulis of the IMO, "Seafaring is a difficult and demanding job, with its own set of unique pressures and risks. At the end of a long and stressful day, there is no return home to the family; no evening with friends at the taverna or the pub; no change of scenery; no chance to properly relax, unwind or de–stress. Just the relentless drone of the diesels and the never–ending movement of the vessel that is not only the seafarers' place of work but also their home, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for weeks and often for months on end; and, ever–present in the back of their mind, the possibility of natural and other, invidious hazards such as pirate attacks, unwarranted detention and abandonment in foreign ports.

In this, the "Year of the Seafarer", our intention has been not only to draw attention to the unique circumstances within which seafarers spend their working lives, while rendering their indispensable services, but also to make a palpable and beneficial difference."

The highlight of this year's North American observance was hearing the international premier of Anthem for Seafarers, performed by Christ Church Cathedral Choir. The event included presentations and panels on a combination of seafarer and environmental protection topics.

RADM W

World Maritime Day Observance
November 17-18, 2010, Vancouver, British Columbia

Our goal is to produce a world-class conference in Vancouver in recognition of World Maritime Day.

This year’s theme is “The Year of the Seafarer.”

The timing for this event in Vancouver is to take advantage of a joint meeting of major global shipping interests: OCIMF, ITOPF and INTERTANKO. NAMEPAwill be joining them to produce this World Maritime Day Observance.