OTTAWA, TODAY: Mr. Stéphane Ouellette, President and Chief Executive Officer, Merchant Navy Commemorative Theme Project (MNCTP), expressed his profound appreciation to all seafarers for their indispensable service to humanity.

Seafarers remain the lifeline of the global economy, ensuring the safe and timely movement of goods, food, medicine, energy, and essential resources across the world’s oceans. Their contributions are not only economic but also strategic, sustaining both national and international security and defence in times of peace and in times of conflict. Every day at sea, they face risks to life and limb, enduring long separations from family, unpredictable weather, and ever-present dangers so that communities around the globe may thrive.

The Day of the Seafarer, officially established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2010, serves as an enduring reminder of the sacrifices and achievements of these men and women. Its objectives are twofold: first, to recognize seafarers’ vital contributions to seaborne trade and the world economy; and second, to express global gratitude for their resilience, courage, and unwavering service. The observance also underscores the human dimension of seafaring—the personal costs and sacrifices borne by individuals who keep the wheels of international commerce turning while others enjoy the comforts of life ashore.