World Maritime Day

This year, World Maritime Day is celebrated on September 30.
Since 1980, the ¨World Maritime Day¨ has been celebrated on the fourth Thursday of the month of September; a date that arose with the clear purpose of paying tribute to the men and women who have dedicated their lives to maintaining world trade by sea since ancient times.
In fact, one of the first signs of globalization and international commercial relations, occurred thanks to the creation and development of ships. Maritime transport was responsible for the dissemination of the paper brought from China, the discovery of America as a meeting of two cultures, the propagation of edible species, the popularization of silk and making the world much more accessible to humanity.

Motto 2021: ¨The people of the sea - at the heart of the future of maritime transport¨
The motto of the World Maritime Day wants to make visible the work of the people who work in maritime transport, since they play a crucial role in the economy and in society.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 crew change crisis highlighted the exceptional contribution of these professionals as key and essential workers, on the front lines of global trade. The international community has seen how the capacity of maritime transport services and of the men and women who comprise it, have contributed decisively, in the timely delivery of goods and essential resources, including medical supplies and food, which has been instrumental in responding to this pandemic and ultimately overcoming it. This could not happen without your professionalism and dedication.
This day will serve to promote activities that delve into specific issues related to its role in: safety of navigation and human life at sea, maritime protection and environmental protection, in a context of greater digitization and automation. Similarly, it is directly linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), in particular the objectives:
• No.4 on quality education;
• No.5 on gender equality;
• No.8 related to decent work and
• No.9 on innovation and industry.

Cuba in this context:
Our country, as a Member State of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) since 1966, joins the celebration of this day and endorses the precepts for which it was created and its motto for this year.
In this framework, it is worth noting the work that has been carried out to develop and maintain our insertion and participation in the International Maritime Community, however, the current pandemic conditions and that are exemplified in:

• The National Maritime Transport Policy and its Auxiliary and Related Services are prepared and in the process of being presented for approval.
• All crew changes requested by the Shipowners and Shipowners, both national and foreign, have been carried out under strict epidemiological security measures and complying with the protocols established in the procedures prepared for this purpose.
• Medical assistance has been provided to crew members infected with COVID and detected by our International Health Control systems at borders.
• Special mention should be made of the evacuation operation, through our country, of the crew and passengers of the British Cruise Ship “BRAEMAR”, when they were denied entry to territorial waters and berthed by several countries in the area.
• A control procedure was established for the Cruise Terminals with a view to certifying the opening of their operations under New Normal conditions.
• The unloading operations and the provision of port services were carried out efficiently to ships from friendly countries that transported various goods as Humanitarian Aid or donations to our country.
• It has actively participated in virtual meetings of the International Maritime Organization, the Regional Maritime Organizations and the Network of Women of the Maritime Authorities of Latin America (Red MAMLa).
• The International Ballast Water and Sewage Water Management Agreements are under study for approval and future adherence; Likewise, the draft Decree that will put into effect the National Plan to fight against Hydrocarbon Spills is in the completion phase.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE SEA OF CUBA AND THE WORLD!!!
Maritime Administration of Cuba