Today is World Maritime Day. IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos’ message reads in part: In selecting the “Year of the Seafarer” theme, our intention was also to use it as an excellent opportunity to reassure those who labour at the “sharp end” of the industry – the seafarers themselves – that those of us who work in other areas of the maritime community, and yet whose actions have a direct bearing on seafarers’ everyday lives, understand the extreme pressures they face and approach our tasks with genuine interest and concern for them and their families. We hope so. We definitely hope so. ~Barista Uno
