World Maritime Day 2025 galvanises the global shipping industry towards maritime safety, sustainable practices, and ocean stewardship.
In 2025, the International Maritime Organisation’s theme for World Maritime Day—“Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity”—resonates deeply with both environmental and economic imperatives. The commemoration will reach its crescendo on 25 September 2025, culminating in events at IMO Headquarters.
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Theme Significance: A Call for Ocean Stewardship
The World Maritime Day 2025 theme encapsulates three profound facets of the ocean:
- Our Ocean: Acknowledges the ocean’s vital contribution to global trade—over 80 per cent of international goods are conveyed by sea—as well as its role as a habitat, food source, and climate regulator.
- Our Obligation: Reflects the collective duty of shipping stakeholders to safeguard the marine environment, supported by IMO’s long-standing regulatory framework and technical assistance spanning 176 Member States.
- Our Opportunity: Emphasises the chance to demonstrate leadership in ocean protection through collaboration, aligning with global initiatives—such as the UN BBNJ Agreement, an instrument addressing plastic pollution, and the forthcoming UN Ocean Conference in June 2025.
Notably, the IMO Secretary-General has actively engaged the next generation in this mission, including a symbolic launch of the theme at a school in London, urging all maritime stakeholders to amplify the message throughout 2025.
About the International Maritime Organisation (IMO)
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is the United Nations’ specialised agency tasked with safeguarding the safety, security and environmental performance of international shipping. Its foundational mission is to develop a fair, effective, and universally implemented regulatory framework, thereby preventing any compromise on safety or environmental standards for commercial or economic gain.
Established under a 1948 Geneva Convention (originally as IMCO, later IMO), the Organisation promotes cooperation among Governments in technical, legal, and navigational matters affecting international shipping.
IMO’s Work Programmes and Structure
IMO’s structure comprises an Assembly, a Council, five main Committees—Maritime Safety, Marine Environment Protection, Legal, Technical Cooperation, and Facilitation—and multiple sub-committees supporting technical work. The Assembly is the highest governing body, meeting biennially to adopt work programmes and budgets; the Council serves as the executive organ between Assembly sessions.
Why World Maritime Day 2025 Matters to ICOMIA
For ICOMIA, representing the marine industry, World Maritime Day 2025 offers a unique platform to underscore the industry’s role in sustainable ocean stewardship. The theme intertwines neatly with ICOMIA’s priorities—safety, technological innovation, environmental protection, and sustainable growth.
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