The World Maritime Day theme for 2015 is “Maritime education and training”.
Watch – What IMO Secretary-General Has to say about the WORLD MARITIME DAY 2015
The theme was adopted to focus attention on the wider spectrum of maritime education and training, in particular, its adequacy and quality. As the bedrock of a safe and secure shipping industry, maritime education and training need to preserve the quality, practical skills and competence of qualified human resources, to ensure its sustainability.
The 1978 STCW Convention and Code, as amended, set the international benchmark for the training and education of seafarers. Compliance with standards is essential for serving on board ships. The skills and competence of seafarers and indeed, the human element ashore, can only be adequately underpinned, updated and maintained through effective maritime education and training.
Thursday, 24 September 2015, is celebrated as World Maritime Day at IMO Headquarters, but other events and activities focusing on maritime education and training will take place throughout the year.
World Maritime Day open mornings:
IMO is hosting two open mornings, at IMO Headquarters, to promote the 2015 World Maritime Day theme. Member States’ officer trainee cadets are encouraged to attend and serve as role models for those students considering a career at sea.
The first day (22 September) was for primary school students. The pupils enjoyed an interactive session where they learned about ships, the cargoes they carry, regulations for ships and the whole range of careers in the maritime world. They then took turns on ship simulators, loaned by ARI World, and were interviewed about what they had learned.
The second day (23 September) was for secondary school students, who heard speakers from Southampton Solent University (Warsash Maritime Academy); the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology (IMarEST); Plymouth University (School of Marine Science and Engineering and Plymouth Business School); and from the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers. The 120 students then enjoyed trying out ship simulators, loaned by ARI World, and were able to quiz people working in the maritime field, including current students and cadets, on maritime training and careers. Careers at Sea, Institute of Chartered shipbrokers, IMarEST, Plymouth University and Southampton Solent University (Warsash Maritime Academy) supported the event.
Maritime education and training needs – now and in the future – were the focus of a high-level international symposium held during the 2015 World Maritime Day Parallel Event (20 – 21 July), hosted in Japan’s port city of Yokohama and its capital Tokyo. The event was held in conjunction with Japan’s Marine Day, which is a national holiday.
The opening session, held in Tokyo, was attended by Mr Shinzō Abe, the Prime Minister of Japan and addressed by Mr Akihiro Ohta, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan.
The two-day event was attended by some 400 representatives from the maritime community in Japan and other countries, including government representatives and representatives from the maritime industry, non-governmental organizations and academia. Sessions on the first day of the event addressed: maritime human resources today; human resources related to the seas and the oceans; education for future generations; and next steps in education and training.
