Liberia Salutes Seafarers, Commits To Ensuring Better Working Condition

The concerned resolution stated purpose is “to recognize the extraordinary contributions made by seafarers from all over the world to the international seaborne trade, the world economy and civil society as a whole”.

The resolution encourages "member countries, shipping organizations, companies, shipowners and all related parties to duly and appropriately promote the Day of the Seafarer and take actions to celebrate it meaningfully". It further encourages governments, shipping firms, companies associated with the seaborne trade to implement initiatives that seek to promote and protect the rights and welfare of the world’s nearly two million seafarers, many of whom are women.

This year’s observance aims to increase awareness and the general welfare of the world's mariners, many of whom sail and work under the Liberian flag, a flag that supports a safer, stress-free, greener and a more edifying working environment for the word’s mariners.

The introduction of shipping containers, together with better vessel design and construction, improved technological equipment has fundamentally reduced the intense level of physical power required of today’s seafarer. Equally, modern technology like email and WhatsApp has given the seafarer the means to be more in touch with his family and friends onshore. Indeed, inarguably, contemporary technology has set apart the twenty-first century seafarer from all his predecessors!

With all these improvements, however, recent history makes it evidently clear that a career at sea is still not for the fainthearted. For example, in the last few decades, thousands of seafarers have been either attacked, battered, terrorized, murdered, or taken hostage by pirates and armed robbers in the Strait of Malacca, the Gulf of Aden and the Gulf of Guinea.

Today, many hapless seafarers are being imperiled by piracy, while many others are being confined onboard ships because of Covid-19 related issues.

Still, others have been unable to go to sea, leading to a loss of income and untold hardship amongst mariners and their families.

Given their brave and indispensable service to the global economy, LiMA salutes and congratulates all seafarers – and renews its commitment in the push for greater attention to be paid to the health, safety and the general well-being of these hardworking men and women.