Ghana has commemorated the 2023 Day of the Seafarer in grand style at the Regional Maritime University. The Day of the Seafarer (June 25) is a day celebrated globally to recognize the sacrifices of the people whose duty it is to ensure humanity’s daily consumables reach us in our homes.

This year’s celebration was special, in that, it coincided with the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL 73/78)

This year’s theme, “Seafarers, MARPOL, and The Marine Environment,” aligns with the World Maritime theme “MARPOL at 50 – Our commitment goes on.”

Organized by the Authority under the auspices of the Ministry of Transport, the occasion gathered some of the industry’s biggest brains and practitioners, ranging from seafarers, academia, students, regulators, employers, and the media.

Key personalities who graced the occasion included the Chief Director of the Ministry of Transport, Mrs Mabel Sagoe, Director General of the Authority, Mr Thomas Alonsi and Capt. Dallas Laryea, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Regional Co-ordinator for West and Central Africa.

Representatives of stakeholder organizations including Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Ghana Shippers’ Authority, Seafarers Centre Ghana, National Union of Seamen Ports and Allied Workers and Ghana Merchant Navy Officers Association, were present.

Others were Ship Owners and Agents Association of Ghana, Women’s International Shipping, Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders, Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, Maritime Professionals Club and many more.

The programme was characterized by speeches by Mr Alonsi and Mrs Sagoe who represented the Minister of Transport, and solidarity messages from IMO Secretary General Mr Kitack Lim read by Capt. Laryea and the Ag. Vice Chancellor of RMU, Dr Jethro Brooks.

Dr Brooks for instance, expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to host the event while calling for more collaboration among key stakeholders like the Ministry and the Authority.

There was also a panel discussion and a video documentary shown on the role seafarers play to prevent sea pollution. The Day of the Seafarer was established in a resolution adopted by the 2010 Diplomatic Conference in Manila to adopt the revised STCW Convention to recognize the work of seafarers worldwide.

Click link to see event photos https://rb.gy/zmx83