The IMO has selected 2021 a year of action for seafarers facing extraordinary challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, despite their important role as key workers in the global supply chain.
The World Maritime Theme for 2021, “Seafarers: at the core of shipping’s future” aim to increase the visibility of seafarers by drawing attention to the invaluable role they play now and will continue to play in the future.
The theme will provide flexibility to the Secretariat, Member States and NGOs in consultative status to focus on seafarers as the people at the heart of shipping, while also allowing for activities to dig into specific topics relevant to the role of the seafarer in safety, maritime security, environmental protection and seafarersʹ well-being; and the future of seafaring against a backdrop of increased digitalization and automation.
As part of its efforts to put seafarers at the center of the debate, the IMO has launched a set of profiles in which seafarers communicate their views on their work and the future of shipping.
