The annual Day of the Seafarer (DotS) is celebrated today, June 25, 2019. This year’s campaign, ‘I am onboard with gender equality’ draws attention to equality and solidarity in gender equality in the maritime and shipping industries.

The IMO has focused its efforts on the importance and value of women within the professional ranks throughout 2019. Much of this is being driven by the World Maritime Day theme (Empowering Women in the Maritime Community). The IMO says that it is already clear that this theme has a very strong and far-reaching resonance.

The DotS provides an opportunity to highlight opportunities for women (as well as the contributions they are already making) in a wide range of maritime careers and professions, but the focus will be very firmly on one aspect of that community – seafarers.

As in previous years, the campaign will be centred on social media. The 2019 campaign hashtag is: #IAmOnBoard and can be used by anyone engaging in the campaign, male or female, to show their solidarity for gender equality in seafaring.

The IMO will create downloadable cards bearing the hashtag, the SDG 5 icon and the Day of the Seafarer logo. The organisation will also invite all campaign supporters to take selfies or other photographs which include the card and to post them on social media with the hashtag.

As in previous years, the campaign will be centred on social media. All IMO’s social media platforms are likely to feature. Twitter, Facebook and Instagram will account for most activity.

The IMO invites all campaign participants to think about what they would do if they were able to make just one change to achieve gender equality in seafaring. Visit the IMO’s interactive on-line space where participants’ responses can be submitted and captured.