Ship Efficiency in Focus as IMO Announces World Maritime Day Theme for 2017

IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) Thursday announced that the theme of World Maritime Day 2017 will be "Connecting Ships, Ports, and People," a theme that is said to be partly focused on improving ship efficiency and will contribute to meeting the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim commented on the newly announced theme at the IMO Council's 116th session at IMO Headquarters in London.

"The aim is to build on the World Maritime Day theme for 2016, 'Shipping: indispensable to the world' by focussing on helping Member States to develop and implement maritime strategies to invest in a joined-up, interagency approach that addresses the whole range of issues, including the facilitation of maritime transport, and increasing efficiency, navigational safety, protection of the marine environment, and maritime security," said Lim.

"Ultimately, more efficient shipping, working in partnership with a port sector supported by governments, will be a major driver towards global stability and sustainable development for the good of all people."

Key objectives under the theme are said to include improving cooperation between ports and ships, improving global standards and setting norms for the safety, security, and efficiency of ports, as well as for port and coastal state authorities, and standardising port procedures by developing best practice guidance and training materials.

In April, IMO announced that its 2030 Agenda on SDGs was highlighted as part of the first Maritime Administrators' Forum in Singapore - part of Singapore Maritime Week (SMW) 2016.