London: Minister of Transport Mr Sibusiso Ndebele has called on South Africans of all ages to join the international campaign to say "thank you, Seafarers". The campaign is part of the inaugural "Day of the Seafarer" celebrations which started on 25 June this year.
The campaign is driven by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and aims to pay tribute to the world's 1.5 million seafarers for their unique and all-too-often overlooked contribution to the well-being of the general public.
In 2010, International Maritime Organisation(IMO) Member States agreed that the unique contribution made by seafarers from all over the world to international seaborne trade, the world economy and civil society as a whole, should be marked annually with a 'Day of the Seafarer' on 25 June.
As part of these celebrations of the inaugural Day of the Seafarer on 25 June this year, the IMO asked people around the globe to say "Thank you seafarers" on Facebook, via tweets, by posting a video on YouTube, discussing on LinkedIn, or even writing an inspirational blog. The campaign has been very successful and continues throughout the year.
Ndebele said social media networks would become an integral part of campaigns such as this one to raise awareness of the seafaring profession.
"By generating interaction on the web about seafarers, the campaign aims to show respect, recognition and gratitude to seafarers everywhere. The universal outreach of social media will raise awareness of the vital role that seafarers play in the world economy. Seafarers contribute to sustainable development enabling ships to carry than 90% of world trade safely, efficiently and with minimal impact on the environment," said Ndebele.
Ndebele said the Day of the Seafarer is an opportunity to educate the public about issues facing the modern-day seafarer including the boundless opportunities but also safety issues including piracy. It is most importantly, the occasion for the world, to say "thank you, seafarers", said Ndebele.
Ndebele is leading South Africa's delegation to the IMO Council which starts on 27 June to 1 July 2011 in London. The Minister is accompanied at the IMO by South Africa's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Dr Zola Skweyiya and senior officials of the Department of Transport including the Chief Executive Officer of the South African Maritime Safety Agency (SAMSA) Commander Tsietsi Mokhele.
Ndebele also used the occasion to pay tribute to Akhona Geveza whose body was discovered at sea off the coast of Croatia two years ago on 24 June 2010 where the Safmarine Kariba, the ship on which she was a trainee was berthed. Her death has brought to international attention the safety of cadets especially the females, and the rest of seafarers out at sea.
"The maritime industry owes the world to seafarers like Akhona Geveza who at 19years of age paid with her life at sea, just to bring food, goods, commodities to the world, to aid international trade and to develop economies of the world," said Minister of Transport Sibusiso Ndebele.
Minister Ndebele said investigations into the death of Geveza were progressing very well and involved a number of countries. Minister Ndebele said there were plans to request the United Kingdom government as the Flag State of the ship on board which Geveza worked, to assist with investigations into Geveza's death.
"As the government of South Africa, working together with our friends and colleagues in the rest of the world will ensure that we will never stop until we have established the true facts surrounding the death of Akhona Geveza," said Ndebele.
To be part of this campaign everyone is encouraged to send the simple yet powerful message: "Thank you, seafarers".
To join the campaign, go to www.imo.org and click Day of the Seafarer.
"Like" on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeafarerDay
Follow Day of the Seafarer on Twitter: @seafarerday
Watch videos on YouTube: www.youtube.com/seafarerday
See photos on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/seafarerday
Contact:
Thami Ngidi
Cell: 082 888 0852
