Sun | Dec 1, 2024

Day of the Seafarer tackles environmental challenges

Published:Tuesday | July 4, 2023 | 12:22 AM
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Cadets and seafarers joined the local celebrations for Day of the Seafarer at a church service at the St Paul’s Methodist Church in Port Royal, Kingston, on June 25.
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Cadets and seafarers joined the local celebrations for Day of the Seafarer at a church service at the St Paul’s Methodist Church in Port Royal, Kingston, on June 25.
The Maritime Authority of Jamaica visited the Freeport Terminal in Montego Bay, Rio Bueno in Trelawny, and Kingston Wharves Limited in Kingston to present tokens to seafarers.
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The Maritime Authority of Jamaica visited the Freeport Terminal in Montego Bay, Rio Bueno in Trelawny, and Kingston Wharves Limited in Kingston to present tokens to seafarers.
The local recognition of Day of the Seafarer is led by the Maritime Authority of Jamaica, which visited ports across the island to recognise seafarers and their contributions to the global community.
Contributed
The local recognition of Day of the Seafarer is led by the Maritime Authority of Jamaica, which visited ports across the island to recognise seafarers and their contributions to the global community.
International seafarers were not to be left out, as the Maritime Authority of Jamaica also presented tokens to visiting mariners in port at the time of their visit.
Contributed
International seafarers were not to be left out, as the Maritime Authority of Jamaica also presented tokens to visiting mariners in port at the time of their visit.
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JAMAICA’S MARITIME industry joined the world in commemorating Day of the Seafarer on June 25, an annual celebration which recognises the contribution of seafarers globally.

The event was celebrated under the theme ‘MARPOL at 50 – Our commitment goes on’, in recognition of the International Maritime Organization’s pledge to protect and preserve the marine environment and promote sustainable development.

Local celebrations were led by the Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ) which, among other things, hosted a webinar on the importance of seafarers in preserving the marine environment and ensuring international maritime regulations such as MARPOL (The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships) are properly enforced. The MAJ’s week of activities also included port visits, the presentation of tokens to seafarers, and a church service on the day, during which its Deputy Director General Claudia Grant said seafarers’ expertise is crucial to implementing global regulations onboard ships.

“As a coastal state, Jamaica’s ability to ensure standards are maintained by all vessels using our coastal waters is also dependent on seafarers, who are employed as regulators and various capacities in industry when they come ashore,” Grant said at the St Paul’s Methodist Church in Port Royal, Kingston.

She added, “As the shipping industry accelerates its support for global efforts to combat climate change by moving towards decarbonisation, seafarers’ actions and voices are key to ensuring a successful transition to a zero-carbon future.”

Shipping Industry shares more highlights from the week’s events: