Dear friends!

On behalf of the staff of the National University “Odesa Maritime Academy” I congratulate all seafarers, their families, everyone involved in education, training, employment of seafarers and support of maritime shipping on the International Day of the Seafarer. I would like to remind you that this year we celebrate this holiday for the 15th time. The International Day of the Seafarer was established on June 25, 2010 by the Manila Diplomatic Conference of the Parties to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 (STCW), which adopted a new edition of the STCW Convention and Code with the Manila Amendments. As part of the official delegation of Ukraine, I had the honor to sign the Final Act of the Conference. Today, the International Maritime Organization is working on another revision of the Convention and the Code to raise the standards of competence and professionalism of seafarers, upon whom the safety of life, property and the environment depends. I wish everyone peaceful skies and safe sailing!