The largest part of the maritime workforce is made up of seafarers. The men and women who spend long weeks, months, and sometimes years, away from the families and homes, are an essential part of the globe’s supply chain. Particularly during the global pandemic, many seafarers were denied travel, access to vaccines, shore leave and much more.
That is why the Malta Maritime Summit’s philanthropic organisation of choice has always been the Apostleship of the Sea, Malta, which provides spiritual and material support to seafarers on board ships in port and offshore.
Since the first Summit in 2016, a maritime-themed art exhibition is inaugurated on the first day of Malta Maritime Week, with all proceeds in aid of this organisation. MMS2022 will be following suit and inaugurating the art exhibition on the evening of the 3rd of October. The exhibition will be held in the gallery of the Malta Marriot Hotel & Spa, where the conference is being held, making it easily accessible to all attendees and a wonderful opportunity to contribute to this admirable cause.
The Apostleship of the Sea is led by Port chaplain, Rev. Fr. Joe Borg, AOS. The organisation was given Ta’ Liesse church Valletta in 1961, and opened a Seafarer’s Centre in Valletta in 2016.
“The Day of the Seafarer was established in a resolution adopted by the 2010 Diplomatic Conference in Manila to adopt the revised the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW).
Its stated purpose is to recognize the unique contribution made by seafarers from all over the world to international seaborne trade, the world economy and civil society as a whole.
The resolution “encourages Governments, shipping organizations, companies, shipowners and all other parties concerned to duly and appropriately promote the Day of the Seafarer and take action to celebrate it meaningfully”.
Day of the Seafarer is recognized by the United Nations as an observance day.” (IMO)
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