Today, 26th September is World Maritime Day. Stella Maris’ CEO/National Director, Tim Hill, and Chair of Trustees, Dr Esteban Pacha has sent a letter to His Excellency Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization. Here’s the text of the letter.
Dear Secretary General,
On behalf of Stella Maris, the Maritime Charity of the Catholic Church, we would like to offer you our wholehearted support for this year’s World Maritime Day which carries the theme, “Navigating the future: safety first!” This is a very fitting theme, particularly on the 50th anniversary of the SOLAS Convention.
The theme reflects the IMO’s excellent work to enhance maritime safety and security, in tandem with the protection of the marine environment. It also acknowledges the Organization’s ongoing commitment to ensure regulatory frameworks are in place to accommodate emerging technologies and innovations so that seaborne international trade continues to be safe, smooth and efficient.
As a leading global maritime ship visiting network and seafarer welfare support organisation, Stella Maris has always put safety at the forefront of our priorities. We strive to ensure that seafarers work and live in safe and secure environments on board and in ports, and it is our sincere belief that seafarers must be at the centre of any emerging changes taking place within the maritime industry.
Ensuring seafarers’ safety is paramount. Against the backdrop of the ongoing Ukraine war and its impact on the Black Sea region, escalating tensions in the Red Sea region and other challenges such as piracy and hijackings at sea, there is no doubt that seafarers continue to work in risky and dangerous conditions. If seafarers voluntarily agree to work in dangerous regions, then everything must be done to ensure their safety, and additional welfare provided to support them and their families, which includes those crews on extended transit south of the Cape of Good Hope. As ever, we will continue our daily ship visits in ports worldwide, where our chaplains and volunteers provide friendship and support that help safeguard seafarers’ physical and mental health, wellbeing and safety.
Stella Maris stands ready to continue to work with the IMO, shipping organisations and companies, welfare service providers and the wider maritime community, to ensure that every effort is made to improve safety and morale on board. This will assist in the recruitment and retention of the industry’s most prized asset: its people.
Please be assured of our continued support for your excellent work.