June 24, 2020
Every year of June 25 we celebrate the IMO’s International Day of the Seafarer – and this year marks the 10th anniversary of this annual celebration. It is a day to slow down and formally celebrate our seafaring colleagues all around the world – and the million other seafarers who help power the global economy. This year, the theme for International day of the Seafarer is #SeafarersAreKeyWorkers.
Seafarers are on the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic, playing an essential role in maintaining the flow of vital goods, such as food, medicines and medical supplies. However, the crisis has led to uncertainties and difficulties about port access, re-supply, crew changeovers and repatriation.
This year, the Day of the Seafarer campaign calls on Member States to recognize seafarers as key workers – and to provide them with the support, assistance and travel options open to all key workers during the pandemic. As the world is beginning to open up, our teams across Teekay are working tirelessly to facilitate crew changes and get our seafarers home safely.
People around the world now know what it means to be confined, to some extent, for a few weeks or months as a result of COVID-19. But seafarers are doing the same, in a smaller space and away from family. Yet despite all that, our fleets are delivering cargoes as reliably as ever.
To commemorate this year’s Day of the Seafarer campaign, and to celebrate the reliability, resilience, and professionalism our seafarers demonstrate every day, we collected video messages of support from our global Teekay Family.
To our seafarers – we hope these messages show you just how much we appreciate your unwavering #TeekaySpirit. Your work truly keeps the world moving.
Happy International Day of the Seafarer!