Container ship near a commercial port in Thailand

© Suriyapong Thongsawang/Getty Image

Aye aye, captain!. World Maritime Day

The sea is a wild and chaotic place to work, especially with approximately 80% of all countries having access to the ocean or an ocean-accessible sea. As such, the International Maritime Organisation was established during a United Nations conference in Geneva in 1948 and went into effect 10 years later. To commemorate that first meeting, every year in September, maritime shipping professionals and leaders gather to celebrate World Maritime Day. The event raises awareness about maritime safety, sustainable shipping practices, and environmental pollution. Beyond that, it is a day to honour the unsung heroes of the sea, maritime workers.

This year's theme focuses on the 50th anniversary of MARPOL 73/78, an international law that regulates emissions and prevents pollution in our ocean waters. While the ocean plays a vital global role in trade, the survival of many species on Earth, including our own, depends on it remaining a healthy place.