Blue illumination and laser-inscribed ‘World Maritime Day’ on the Harbour Master’s Office Building of the Northern Port of Gdańsk
World Maritime Day is celebrated on the last Thursday of September. On this occasion, the Harbour Master’s Office Building of the Northern Port of Gdańsk, the Maritime Office in Gdynia, the Harbour Master’s Office Building of the Port of Gdynia and selected elements of Gdynia Maritime University will be lit blue.
The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has announced a new initiative to promote World Maritime Day. This year’s theme is “Seafarers: at the core of shipping’s future”. To mark the occasion, the IMO building, including the Seafarer’s Memorial incorporated into its structure, will from now on be lit blue for every World Maritime Day. The IMO has also extended the invitation to IMO Member States, intergovernmental organisations and NGOs, encouraging them to join the initiative by lighting up their most iconic buildings, bridges, ports, ships, monuments, museums and other maritime landmarks.
Ports from the Tricity have already joined the initiative. On that day, the Harbour Master’s Office Building of the Northern Port of Gdańsk will be lit blue, and the words “World Maritime Day” will be inscribed by blue laser on its tower. The Harbour Master’s Office Building of the Port of Gdynia and selected objects of Gdynia Maritime University will also be lit blue (including the ship Dar Młodzieży).
This initiative is a symbolic effort to unite the maritime community and to raise awareness of the vital contribution made by shipping in the global economy. The IMO encourages governments to support seafarers during the pandemic. The organisation draws attention to the issue of seafarers being stranded on ships beyond their original contracts, unable to be repatriated, as well as social isolation, the risk of depression and other mental problems they face. Issues that will stay relevant to seafarers beyond the pandemic are being discussed on international forums, such as fair working conditions (in compliance with the International Labour Organisation’s Maritime Labour Convention), training, comprehensive approaches to safety and much more.
Contact for the media:
Anna Drozd – spokesperson for the Port of Gdańsk
e-mail: anna.drozd@portgdansk.pl
tel: (+48) 727 064 605
