World Maritime Day 2025

This year's motto of the World Maritime Day highlights the importance of the oceans - after all, around 80 percent of the world's trade is shipped over the seas. That is another reason why it is important to protect the oceans and use their ressources sustainably. International Maritime Organization (IMO) contributes to this goal: Its globally applicable instruments enhance the safety of maritime shipping and provide protection of the marine environment. 

On 25 September, the IMO headquarters in London are lit up in blue and, on its social media channels X (former Twitter), Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIN, the IMO and its followers celebrate maritime shipping under the hashtag #WorldMaritimeDay. The UN specialized agency calls on its member states to illuminate their buildings in blue as well or celebrate the World Maritime Day with other campaigns. Germany will hoist the flags at its official buildings in North Germany on the day; for this a special flag order has been issued.

On the IMO website, the Secretary General of the IMO, Arsenio Dominguez, directs a special greeting to the maritime world. In it, he draws our attention to the this year's theme of the World Maritime Day "Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity", which is closely linked with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. The oceans are essential in many different ways for us humans - as well as for marine animals. Moreover, they regulate the climate of the earth. Because the protection of the oceans concerns us all - big or small - the Secretary General visited a school in England this year where he was interviewed by the some of the pupils about marine environment protection.