The Ministry of Transport, as the Cook Islands Maritime Safety Authority, is paying tribute to seafarers as it marks the World Maritime Day 2021 which is celebrated annually on September 30.

In a statement, John Hosking, Secretary of Transport, said: “Seafarers play a vital role throughout the world but in the Pacific, they are our lifeblood.”

“They transport our people and our cargo – they provide connections between our islands and with the rest of the world.

“We know that Covid-19 has made their work harder and we want to take this opportunity to thank them and acknowledge the work they do.”

To mark World Maritime Day, the Cook Islands, through Maritime Cook Islands, Cook Islands Ports Authority and the Ministry of Transport, have organised a social get together with the domestic shipping companies and their seafarers, to acknowledge their contribution during these uncertain times. This will be held on Tuesday, October 5.

Earlier this year, the Maritime Safety Authority launched a safety campaign to improve standards across the domestic vessel fleet.

This campaign has included vessel inspections and providing information to operators on how to improve their vessel and operation safety.

“This work is ongoing and will help keep our seafarers, operators and the people they carry on their vessels, safe,” Hosking said.

The United Nations, via the International Maritime Organization (IMO), created World Maritime Day to celebrate the international maritime industry’s contribution towards the world’s economy, especially in shipping.

The theme changes each year and all IMO member states are encouraged to celebrate the day in some way.

This year, the theme is ‘Seafarers: At the core of shipping’s future’.

The United Nations noted the theme was chosen to reflect the “clear need” to raise awareness of seafarers’ crucial role in world trade, particularly as Covid-19 has made their jobs so much harder all around the world.

“The international community has seen how the ability for shipping services and seafarers to ensure the functioning of the global supply chains has been central to responding to, and eventually overcoming, this pandemic. This could not happen without the professionalism and dedication of the world’s seafarers.”