25 June of 2012 marked the second international “Day of the Seafarer”, following its establishment by a resolution adopted at an IMO convention in Manila in 2010. “Day of the Seafarer” recognizes the invaluable contribution seafarers make to international trade and the world economy, often at great personal cost to themselves and their families.
In 2012, as in 2011, the celebration took the form of an online campaign, in which IMO asked everyone to voice their support using social networks. On the Day of the Seafarer, IMO asked people around the globe to say “Thank you seafarers” on Facebook, via tweets, by posting a video on YouTube, discussing on LinkedIn, or even writing an inspirational blog.
The Day of the Seafarer provided an opportunity to pay tribute to the world’s 1.5 million seafarers for the unique and all-too-often overlooked contribution to the well-being of the general public, and IMO encouraged the use of as many social media networks as possible, anticipating that the universal outreach of social media would raise awareness of the vital role that seafarers play in the world economy and, in many respects, in sustainable development, enabling ships to carry than 90% of world trade safely, efficiently and with minimal impact on the environment.