YIMO Becomes First Seafarer-Led Youth Organization Recognized by UN Ocean Decade

The Office of the Youth in Maritime (YIMO) has reached a significant milestone by being recognized as the first seafarer-led youth organization under the United Nations Ocean Decade’s Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOP) Program. This achievement, highlighted in a recent ECOP Newsletter, signifies a major advancement for young individuals in the maritime sector. YIMO President Yrhen Bernard Sabanal Balinis views this recognition as a crucial link between scientific research, policymaking, and the valuable experiences of young maritime professionals.

Balinis emphasizes the importance of firsthand experience at sea in shaping effective policies and cites YIMO’s dual mission of simplifying ocean science for seafarers and empowering them to advocate for the industry. By bridging the gap between policy development and implementation, YIMO aims to enhance transparency and safety at sea while also attracting and retaining younger generations in the maritime field.

In collaboration with ECOP, YIMO is set to launch its groundbreaking project, “Through the Lookout’s Binoculars: A Global Youth in Maritime Outlook,” a UN Ocean Decade survey focusing on the perspectives of seafarers and young maritime professionals. These insights will inform advocacy campaigns led by YIMO and ECOP, with Balinis, a former IMO goodwill maritime ambassador, leading the charge in empowering young maritime professionals worldwide.

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