The IMO headquarters in the United Kingdom was one of numerous buildings, bridges, ports, ships, monuments, museums and other landmarks in more than 30 counties that were lit up blue on 30 September 2021 to celebrate World Maritime Day. The symbolic initiative, named “maritime blue”, aims to unite the maritime community and raise awareness of the vital contribution of shipping and seafarers to the world. Images from these iconic locations were shared across social media using the hashtag #WorldMaritimeDay.

The blue lights at the IMO headquarters on Albert Embankment in London were positioned to illuminate the Memorial to Seafarers near the entrance, a particularly fitting tribute given this year’s World Maritime Day theme of “Seafarers at the core of shipping”. The memorial, which was inaugurated twenty years ago on World Maritime Day 2001, originally featured lights to illuminate it, but these stopped working over the years. The re-lighting work was completed using funds donated by the International Transport Worker’s Federation.

The lighting up of the building was livestreamed across IMO’s social media channels to a global audience, many of them seafarers. There was also a small, in-person event held at IMO headquarters to mark the occasion.

Going forward, the IMO building, including the Memorial to Seafarers, will continue to be bathed in blue light on each World Maritime Day. IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim has also extended the invitation to IMO Member States, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations in consultative status to join in this annual initiative.

To view pictures of landmarks across the globe participating in the ‘Maritime Blue’ initiative – including images of the IMO building and Seafarer Memorial in blue, please click here: Spotlighting in blue for World Maritime Day 2021 | Flickr

To view images from the 2001 inauguration of the Seafarer Memorial at IMO, please click here: IMO Memorial to Seafarers 2001 | Flickr