- World Maritime Day is observed on the last week of September on Thursday annually.
- The event’s date varies by year and country, this year World Maritime Day will be celebrated on September 24, 2020.
- World Maritime Day is celebrated every year to focus on the importance of safety, maritime security, and marine environment and to emphasise a particular aspect of the International Maritime Organisation’s work.
- Every year the International Maritime Organization (IMO) celebrates World Maritime Day.
- In India National Maritime Day is celebrated on April 5 every year.
- Theme – “Sustainable shipping for a sustainable planet”.
- This theme is to focus on providing an opportunity to raise awareness of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- The day is to celebrate the contribution offered by the industry of international maritime towards the world’s economy, especially in shipping.
- World Maritime Day was first held in 1978 to mark the 20th anniversary of the IMO Convention’s entry into force.
- The IMO’s original name was the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO) but the name was changed in 1982 to IMO.