The world celebrated Day of the Seafarer on Saturday 25 June, with a collective mix of memories and tales of life at sea.

For 2022, the campaign of the Day of the Seafarer, with the theme ‘Your voyage – then and now, share your journey’, looked at seafarer voyages – what they include, how they have evolved over time, and what remains at the heart of seafarers’ reality.

This campaign also gave seafarers and the wider shipping community, a chance to share through social media what resonates with them currently, whether it’s the crew change crisis being unresolved or the future of technology.

For the twelfth time, we celebrate the International Day of the Seafarer on the 25th of June. Since its launch in 2011, the day has focused public attention on the contribution made by seafarers to the entire global community and this year’s theme celebrates maritime voyages and journeys. Every day, hundreds of thousands of seafarers are underway on ships, while others take their well-deserved break – getting ready for their next voyage. Their ships are key movers of global trade, and engines of the global economy, transporting cargoes such as food, medicines, electronics and more.

Without seafarers, there would be no shipping, and this day gives us a chance to recognize and pay tribute to seafarers everywhere, whatever their voyage. Shipping and the call of the oceans, is a meaningful, important career form that a way of life. It provides a solid foundation for life and offers endless opportunities to learn and progress. This noble profession is something that I hold close to my heart and for many of us, our voyages are the start of a lifelong maritime journey.

My own maritime journey has enriched my life. It allowed me to gain skills as a seafarer on ships and then to apply that knowledge and experience ashore. My journey took me from serving as a cadet at the Korean Maritime Academy to studying at the World  Maritime University. I served in the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries in the Republic of Korea and represented my country as a delegate at IMO meetings. Then, on to the Port of Busan Authority, where I was its president, before arriving at my current role as Secretary General.

Each seafarer ’s journey is unique. Yet many of the challenges and opportunities are shared. After two years, the COVID19 pandemic still presents a challenging working environment, with continuing difficulties in conducting crew changes, and gaining access to medical care and shore leave. IMO continues to urge States to support seafarers by designating them as key workers, so that every seafarer’s maritime journey can move into smoother waters. On this Day of the Seafarer, we also look to the future. New technologies, new equipment, and the need to make shipping greener will provide new challenges and opportunities . I am sure you will rise to those challenges and pave the way for more sustainable shipping in the years to come.