The Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ) recently celebrated Maritime Awareness Week from September 20-25, under the theme: “Climate Change: A Challenge for Jamaica Maritime Too”. Maritime Awareness Week is celebrated (across the world) in an effort to focus attention on the global importance of the maritime industries to world trade, and to emphasize, in particular, the promotion of safety and security in shipping and to help protect the marine environment.

Among the host of activities for the week was an Open Day from September 21 to 23 at the Caribbean Maritime Institute, Palisadoes Park . Among the many participants in the Open Day was the Road Safety Unit, which delivered road safety tips to the many patrons at hand. Also included in the activities was a special panel discussion to celebrate World Maritime Day on September 24. In his message to the Maritime Industry, Transport and Works Minister, Mike Henry, said that the Industry is poised for continued growth, despite the global economic situation. “Unlike the negatives of the global recession, we have, for example, seen positives in the areas of training and high-end job placements within the local maritime sector. This is while we have taken a number of major strategic initiatives to better position the industry for much success in the future. These initiatives include the opening of the first full-service Jamaican Ship Registry office abroad, in Bremen , Germany , which has served to significantly broaden Jamaica ’s maritime profile internationally, especially on the vibrant European scene.” 

World Maritime Day is used to focus attention on the importance of shipping safety and the marine environment.