ISSA Secretary Sean Moloney and Head of Administration Yvonne Paul were welcomed to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) by Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez as the maritime community marked World Maritime Day on 24 September.
The visit brought ISSA, an NGO in consultative status with the IMO, into a celebration centred on a challenge for the whole industry: turning rules agreed internationally into results people can see in ports, on ships and throughout maritime supply chains.
“From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence” is the IMO’s World Maritime Day theme for both 2026 and 2027. It is the first time the organisation has adopted a theme for two years, giving governments and industry partners more time to focus on implementation rather than treating the message as a one-day campaign.
For shipsuppliers, that distinction matters. International standards shape how vessels operate, but their value depends on what happens during a port call: whether people have the right information, whether equipment and provisions arrive when needed, and whether those working across the ship-shore interface can carry out their responsibilities safely and efficiently.
The IMO’s theme recognises that adopting a convention is only one step. Rules must be reflected in national legislation, supported by effective enforcement and understood by the people expected to apply them. The IMO says it will help Member States bridge that gap through technical assistance, training, knowledge sharing and other practical support.
The word “powering” is deliberate. It points to the sustained effort needed to make progress, particularly where countries and maritime businesses have different resources and capabilities. “Maritime excellence”, in turn, describes the goal: shipping that is safer, more secure, more efficient and more environmentally sustainable.
In his World Maritime Day message, Mr Dominguez placed seafarers at the heart of that work, saying implementation must make a difference for the people working at sea. It is a reminder that the measure of any policy is its effect on daily operations and on those who depend on them.
The IMO’s London headquarters was illuminated in blue to mark the day, with Member States and maritime organisations invited to light up landmarks of their own. The gesture made the theme visible; the work ahead is to make its promise visible too, through consistent standards and practical improvements across the industry.
