Since 1978, every last Thursday of September has been celebrated as World Maritime Day to honor the work of the international maritime industry workers and bring focus on maritime security and the marine environment. Safe and reliable international shipping industry is the foundation of the global free market.
In its lifetime, the distance covered by a large container ship can measure up to the distance between the Earth and the Moon, time nine.
Shipping is the most affordable way of commercial transport. One ship saves a hundred train rides. Over 80 percent of world trade is carried across the world’s oceans by some 90,000 marine vessels. Like all modes of transportation that use fossil fuels, ships produce emissions that significantly contribute to global climate change and acidification of oceans.
1914 - The Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention was organized by the United Nations after the Titanic disaster.
A single cargo ship may cause the same health issues as 50 million cars due to the use of low-quality bunker fuel. A study estimated that global maritime shipping was responsible for up to 250,000 deaths annually due to air pollution, and up to 6.4 million childhood asthma cases. The fishing industry is also responsible for ocean pollution and deep nets are destroying the sea floor.
The World Maritime theme for 2022 - 'New technologies for greener shipping' - reflects the need to support a green transition of the maritime sector into a sustainable future. The IMO’s target of cutting emissions from shipping in half by 2050 relative to 2008 levels is progressing slowly. Shipping economist Martin Stopford estimated meeting this goal would cost the industry $3.4 trillion.
Sources: un.org, nationaltoday.com, medium.com
LET'S FIGHT TO SAVE THE OCEANS
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