With the slogan “They carry global trade. They take the risks,” the campaign of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) seeks to shed light on the daily lives of seafarers, recognizing both their vital contribution to the global economy and the sacrifices that often remain unseen behind the continuous flow of goods, energy, and supplies across the world.
With the central message of recognizing the contribution of seafarers and the need to protect them in a period of increased geopolitical tensions, the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, Arsenio Dominguez, addressed a message on the occasion of the Day of the Seafarer 2026.
As he emphasized, millions of seafarers around the world keep global trade operational, transporting daily food, fuel, medicine, and essential goods, often far from their families and under particularly difficult conditions.
Referring to this year’s theme of the day, “Carrying global trade, taking the risks,” Mr. Dominguez stressed that many seafarers continue to operate in areas affected by conflicts and geopolitical tensions, facing extended periods at sea, uncertainty about their return home, and limited communication with their families.
“Seafarers must never become unintended victims of broader geopolitical conflicts, whether in the Red Sea, the Black Sea, the Strait of Hormuz, or other difficult areas,” he stated characteristically.
The Secretary-General of the IMO pointed out that behind every ship there is not only a cargo, but people who work for months at sea, often in conditions of isolation, fatigue, and increased stress, while ensuring the uninterrupted transport of goods, energy, and supplies that support the global economy.
“Every ship carries something more than cargo. It carries people,” he noted, adding that “the safety and well-being of seafarers remain our highest priority.”
Addressing seafarers around the world, Mr. Dominguez expressed his gratitude for their contribution to the functioning of the international supply chain, saying: “To all seafarers, we thank you.”
At the same time, he called on the people of the sea to share their personal experiences and the real conditions of life and work on ships, in order to highlight the challenges that the seafaring profession faces daily.
In the same spirit was the message of the Secretary-General of the Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO), Emmanouil Tsikalakis, who on the occasion of the Day of the Seafarer emphasized the decisive role of seafarers in the functioning of the global economy, but also the increasing challenges they face.
“The hundreds of thousands of Seafarers of all specialties and nationalities are the ones who keep the global supply chain alive and moving because, as is well known, 90% of international trade is conducted via sea routes.
As the IMO states, seafarers are those who “Carry global trade while also assuming the risks,” notes the Secretary General of PNO.
He pointed out that the seafaring profession remains particularly demanding, while modern geopolitical developments, armed conflicts and attacks on commercial ships have significantly increased the risks faced by crews in many regions of the world.
At the same time, he referred to the difficulties of seafarers’ daily life, such as prolonged absence from their families, demanding working conditions and the physical and mental strain entailed by life at sea.
Mr. Tsikalakis reiterated PNO’s commitment to the constant defense of seafarers’ rights and safety, calling on the State to immediately take substantial measures to support the profession. As he stated, ensuring decent working and living conditions, access to quality health and education services, strengthening remuneration and providing pension incentives are basic prerequisites for attracting young people to shipping.
“We cannot be proud of the primacy of Greek shipping without tangibly recognizing those who serve it,” the Secretary General of PNO emphatically underlined.
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