World Maritime Day
Next: September 30, 2027
Ninety per cent of everything you own came by sea.
The story
Where it comes from
World Maritime Day was first held in 1978 to mark the twentieth anniversary of the convention that created the International Maritime Organization. It is observed on the last Thursday of September, with a theme set by the IMO each year on safety, security or the marine environment.
How it's celebrated
The IMO holds a ceremony in London and a parallel event hosted by a different member state each year; ports, shipping companies and maritime academies hold open days. Malaysia and Singapore, home to the Strait of Malacca, are among the countries where the day is most visible.
Did you know
- Around 80 to 90 per cent of world trade by volume moves by sea.
- About 1.9 million seafarers crew the world's merchant fleet; the Philippines, Russia, Indonesia, China and India supply the most.
- The Strait of Malacca carries roughly a quarter of the world's traded goods.
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