World Maritime Day

Although it may be confusing, this international day established by the United Nations takes place on the last Thursday of September each year. Therefore, this year World Maritime Day is celebrated on September 25. As the date rotates each year, an annual motto is chosen which, in 2025, is “Our oceans, our obligation, our opportunity.”

The origin of World Maritime Day dates back to the mid-19th century when, after World War II, the United Nations body was formed with the intention of promoting international security. This security also involved the marine environment, where a series of measures and treaties for the proper functioning from all countries.

Although in 1948 the International Maritime Organization (IMO)it was not until 1958 that the Convention establishing the IMO came into force where, according to the Article 1 a) of the Conventionobjectives were set such as:

• Establish a cooperation system between different governments for government practices related to international commercial navigation issues.
• Encourage and promote adoption of standards as high as practicable in matters related to maritime safety.
• Promote the navigation efficiency.
• Prevent and contain sea pollution caused by ships.
• Empower administrative and legal matters related to the previous objectives.

Through these IMO objectives, World Maritime Day began to be celebrated in 1980, which was previously known as World Seas Day.

We tell you the Causes and consequences of sea pollution in the following Evidence Network article.

Although we have already reviewed what the IMO’s objectives are, the intention to celebrate World Maritime Day in 2025 is based on the fundamental importance of the ocean in the global economy. More than 80% of international trade depends on maritime transport, making it an essential pillar of development.

This year’s theme is “Our oceans, our obligation, our opportunity” highlights the connection with the global efforts to protect the oceanssuch as the BBNJ Agreement on marine biodiversity, negotiations to curb plastic pollution and the third UN Ocean Conference in June 2025.

The objectives of World Maritime Day 2025 are also in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are:

• Ocean conservation.
• Climate change.
• Resilient infrastructures.
• Global Alliance for the SDGs.

You may be interested in the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The most effective way to celebrate World Maritime Day is through the dissemination of your message. Therefore, we can use the hashtags #WorldMaritimeDay, #WorldMaritimeDay and #OMI to make this year’s 2025 goal reach as many people as possible.

Furthermore, we must not forget that this day is related to the Sustainable Development Goals, so it is a good idea to raise awareness about globalization and maritime powers, in addition to the transition of maritime trade towards a more sustainable and ecological model.

So that you do not lose the thread about World Maritime Day and its slogans, we mention below the other World Maritime Day slogans:

• “Navigating the future: safety first”: was the theme for the year 2024. It focused on IMO’s work to improve maritime safety and security, together with the protection of the marine environment, while ensuring that its regulatory development process confidently anticipates the rapid pace of technological change and innovation.
• “50 years of MARPOL: our commitment continues”: was the motto of the year 2023. It focused on the organization’s long history of protecting the environment from the effects of maritime transport and highlights its commitment to this work.
• New technologies for greener maritime transport: was the motto of the year 2022. It was based on paying tribute to the people who have been part of the promotion, maintenance and dissemination of world trade in maritime waters for years.
• Seafarers: at the heart of the future of maritime transport: was the motto of the year 2021. Its objective was to raise awareness about the economic and social role of maritime transport, essential during the time of the pandemic and the crisis due to Covid-19.
• Sustainable maritime transport for a sustainable planet: was the motto of the year 2020. This year marked the decade to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in 2030. This implies reducing gas emissions, increasing the participation of women in the maritime field, promoting digitalization in the sector and reducing the amount of marine litter, among others. You may be interested in taking a look at the following article on What plastic islands are and how they are formed.
• Empowering women: was the motto of the year 2019. As indicated, this World Maritime Day motto aims to guarantee gender equality within this field.

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