Maritime New Zealand is celebrating World Maritime Day, with this year's theme: '2010: Year of the Seafarer'.
This theme gives the International Maritime Organisation and the international maritime community the opportunity to pay tribute to the world's seafarers for their unique contribution to society and in recognition of the risks they shoulder in the execution of their duties in an often hostile environment.

"Unique hazards confront the 1.5 million seafarers of the world, including pirate attacks and unwarranted detention and abandonment," says IMO secretary-general Efthimios E. Mitropoulos.
Altogether, the world's 1.5 million seafarers are engaged in delivering the goods needed by the world's 6.5 billion people. As well as transporting 90 per cent of the world's trade and shifting 99 per cent of New Zealand's freight, their work keeps communities and nations connected.
This day is used to focus international attention on the importance of shipping safety, maritime security and the marine environment, or to highlight a particular aspect of the IMO's work.
The world's seafarers are also facing a shortage of ships' officers, making it a priority for the IMO to take action to forestall a situation from developing in which ships are not manned with sufficient skilled personnel, says Efthimios.