The global maritime industry is observing World Maritime Day as attacks on commercial vessels and disruptions to major shipping routes put renewed attention on the need to turn international maritime rules into effective action.
Read also: IMO Delay Puts Shipping’s 2030 Clean-Fuel Target Under Pressure
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is marking the day on September 24 under the theme “From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence.” For the first time, the theme will run across two years, covering 2026 and 2027.
The focus comes as merchant ships face security threats in several conflict zones, including the Strait of Hormuz, the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. The IMO said attacks in conflict areas have resulted in the deaths of seafarers and disrupted international trade and critical supply chains.
In a September 16 update, the IMO said it had verified 80 attacks on international shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz since February 28, resulting in at least 22 seafarer deaths.
IMO puts implementation at the center
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said this year’s theme reflects the need to ensure that international regulations produce practical results for people working across the maritime sector.
The IMO’s message is centered on implementing global rules through national legislation, stronger enforcement, training and technical support.
“Seafarers come first,” Dominguez said in his World Maritime Day message.
The organization develops international rules covering areas including ship safety, environmental protection, maritime security and pollution prevention. However, those rules depend on individual governments to incorporate them into domestic systems and enforce them.
Audit findings expose implementation gaps
The IMO has also completed the first audit cycle under its mandatory Member State Audit Scheme.
According to the organization, 168 Member States, representing 94% of its membership, have been audited on how effectively they meet obligations under key IMO instruments. The audits identified continuing challenges in translating international requirements into national legislation.
Shortages of technical expertise and infrastructure, along with weaknesses in ship oversight, were among the problems identified.
The IMO said the findings will help it direct technical assistance toward countries that need additional support, particularly Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States.
That support includes assistance with national legislation, maritime administration, enforcement systems and training for regulators, port officials and seafarers.
Shipping faces pressure on several fronts
The two-year campaign will cover some of the industry’s biggest challenges, including new technologies, decarbonization, digitalization, maritime and cyber security, fraudulent ship registration and marine environmental protection.
The timing is significant as geopolitical tensions continue to affect commercial shipping.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the international maritime framework is facing pressure from conflicts and geopolitical tensions, with consequences for navigation and the movement of essential commodities.
He noted that about 80% of international trade moves by sea, underscoring the importance of maintaining a functioning maritime system.
The IMO’s World Maritime Day campaign also emphasizes cooperation between governments, labor organizations and the private sector to translate international commitments into practical improvements for seafarers, ports and ship operators.
Industry turns attention from rules to results
The IMO’s decision to keep the theme in place through 2027 is intended to give governments and maritime organizations more time to focus on implementation rather than simply developing additional rules.
The organization has described the initiative as a push to move maritime policy beyond formal adoption and into national legislation, enforcement and everyday operations.
The IMO headquarters in London will be illuminated in blue on September 24 as part of the global World Maritime Day campaign. Member States and maritime organizations have also been encouraged to participate.
The 2026 World Maritime Day Parallel Event is scheduled for October 26-27 in Busan, South Korea.
For an industry operating under growing security, environmental and technological pressures, the message from this year’s observance is increasingly practical: international maritime rules have to work not only on paper, but on ships, in ports and for the people keeping global trade moving.
