Belize celebrates Day of the Seafarer

Posted: Tuesday, June 26, 2018. 8:38 am CST.

By BBN Staff:  Yesterday, maritime industry stakeholders gathered at the Belize Port Authority Office at Mile 4 on the George Price Highway to pay respect to seafarers (men and women who work on boats and ships in various capacities). 

The Belize Port Authority, IMMARBE and the Belize Coastguard, banned together in celebration of International Day of the Seafarer, celebrated annually on June 25. Seafarers Manager for IMMARBE, Edmund Staine, explained that the festivities included traveling in a ship within Belizean waters, the Century Royal, to give a token of appreciation on behalf of Belize to the seafarers on that vessel.  

The maritime agencies also held a cocktail event for many of those seafarers who were not out on duty and issued certificates of appreciation to them. 

Staine noted that this year marks the first time that all maritime agencies have come together to commemorate the event.

Ports Commissioner, Merlene Martinez,  said that the commemoration is important for Belize because the work of seafarers is often overlooked. 

“Whether it’s the Coastguard or the tour guides and water taxi operators, these people make a living by providing a service on the sea,” Martinez said.  

The International Maritime Organization (IMO), decided in 2010 to mark the day to highlight the contribution that seafarers make to the world in areas such as trade and economic development. 

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