Ambassador Carlos Salinas: Celebrating our global maritime professionals

Celebrating our global maritime professionals
Ambassador Carlos Salinas June 26, 2019 https://www.manilatimes.net/celebrating-our-global-maritime-professional...

Yesterday was Day of the Seafarer — an annual event commemorated globally, to acknowledge and give praise to 1.5 million seafarers for their incomparable contribution to our lives, our nation and our world.

Throughout the many years that I have been involved in this industry, I have witnessed how the maritime seascape has changed amid rough waters and tests of time. Yet one thing remains constant — the indispensability of the Filipino seafarer or, as we proudly call them, our global maritime professionals.

I define this indispensability as the Filipino’s ability to “move the world.” This reality and responsibility cannot be underestimated and must always be given the due recognition it deserves.

Our global maritime professionals enable the safe and efficient movement of ships from port to port. The amount of cargo transported on these ships, accounting for over 90 percent of world trade by volume, reflects the significant role that shipping plays in global trade.

Without ships, global trade would be severely hampered. Without people, the ships of today will not operate. It is critical, therefore, that we are able to continue to attract and retain the best and brightest talent willing to go to sea, to keep “moving the world.”

One of the key duties and responsibilities of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations-specialized agency governing the maritime industry internationally, is to recognize how seafarers have shaped and continue to impact the maritime realm. In fact, the Day of the Seafarer was actually launched in Manila in a resolution adopted by the 2010 Diplomatic Conferenc held for the first time outside of the IMO Headquarters in London, which framed the new directions for the implementation of the revised STCW Convention.

The resolution encourages all “governments, shipping organizations, companies, shipowners and all other parties concerned to duly and appropriately promote the Day of the Seafarer and take action to celebrate it meaningfully.”

At the heart of this year’s celebration is the theme, “Empowerment of Women in the Maritime Industry,” with the hashtag #IamOnBoard (with gender equality). This highlights IMO’s campaign for a more pronounced integration of women in the maritime sector, particularly in seafaring. IMO’s aspiration for women engagement dates back to 1988, when it introduced a global program to ensure and enhance women’s access to maritime training and employment opportunities. With the enrolment of women in IMO’s global institutions over the last 30 or more years, women professionals have successfully pursued a wide range of maritime careers. And with a continued push for women in shipping, I am happy to note that the seafaring sector itself is slowly but surely seeing successful female cadets rising through the ranks on
board, serving as an inspiration to younger generations of aspiring women seafarers.

In the suite of events that transpired yesterday, as organized by the Maritime Industry Authority, was the awarding of the Outstanding Women in Maritime Philippines. I congratulate all the awardees and salute the women in all the various sectors of this industry, who continue to help chart our course.

While the Day of the Seafarer is now an annual tradition, we are reminded that celebrating our seafarers should not just be limited to one day, but, rather, be part of a daily recognition of the unparalleled significance of shipping and seafaring to the world. In this regard, I find it appropriate to refer to the wise words of the American essayist, George Wilson Curtis, who wrote: “It is not the ship so much as the skillful sailing that assures the prosperous voyage.” Indeed, what makes all the difference is the heart and soul of shipping, competent global maritime professionals, who are ultimately responsible for carrying out the IMO vision of “safe, secure and efficient shipping on clean oceans.”

That Filipinos exceed 25 percent of all maritime manpower onboard the world’s merchant fleet reflects our being the global seafarer of choice. This lofty recognition we should defend at all costs.