Our Ocean – Our Obligation – Our Opportunity: World Maritime Day 2025 Theme

Alex Smith reported on July 15, 2024, that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has chosen ‘Our Ocean – Our Obligation – Our Opportunity’ as the theme for World Maritime Day in 2025. This decision was made during the IMO Council’s 132nd session, where the theme was proposed by Arsenio Dominguez, the secretary-general of the IMO. The theme aims to emphasize the ocean’s significance in the global economy and environment, highlighting its role in trade, marine life, and climate regulation.

The IMO is stressing the shipping industry’s responsibility in protecting the marine environment and managing ocean resources. By linking regulatory efforts in the industry with global initiatives to safeguard the ocean, including the potential establishment of the UN Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), the IMO aims to address issues like plastic pollution in the world’s oceans. Dominguez emphasized the IMO’s commitment to cleaner and safer seas through a strong regulatory framework and technical assistance programs in its 176 Member States.

World Maritime Day, scheduled for September 25, 2025, will serve as a platform to raise awareness about the importance of ocean conservation and sustainable maritime practices. The theme ‘Our Ocean – Our Obligation – Our Opportunity’ underscores the critical role of the shipping industry in protecting the marine environment and supporting global efforts to preserve the world’s oceans for future generations.

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