The event was honoured with the presence of the Members of the two collaborative organizations Wista and Youngship Cyprus.
Mrs. Christina Christoforou, the Chairwoman of ICS in her speech has highlighted that the day was devoted to the seafarers who are facing unprecedented hardship due to Covid-19 pandemic. IMO has chosen to make 2021 a year of action for seafarers. The World Maritime Theme for 2021, “Seafarers: at the core of shipping’s future” seeks to increase the visibility of seafarers by drawing attention to invaluable role they play now and will continue to play in the future.
The President of Youngship Cyprus Mr. Antonis Varnava has also underlined that the seafarers are the key workers for global supply chain and that the Focus on seafarers comes as the Covid-19 pandemic has placed extraordinary demands on seafarers, with hundreds of thousands of men and women stranded on ships for months beyond their original contracts, unable to be repatriated due to national travel restrictions.
For Wista Cyprus the spokesperson was Mrs. Marilena Morphaki member of the events organizing board. She has referred to the fact that IMO Maritime Theme will also put the spotlight on other issues related to the human element of shipping, including the safety and security of life on board ships, Seafarers’ well being and the importance of ensuring an appropriately trained and qualified workforce, ready to meet the challenges and opportunities of digitalization and automation.
Mrs. Christoforou has also mentioned that ICS Cyprus Branch Committee has decided to honour this year on the occasion of the IMO World Maritime Day The “Mission to Seafarers” Limassol for the important role that has played all these years in our country supporting seafarers arriving from all over the world.
The Chaplain of the Mission was not able to attend the event on that evening to collect the donation. However, the Chairwoman has visited the offices of The Mission on the 30th September at Limassol port and handed over the cheque to the Chaplain Mr. Ken Wiseman. The donation of the Branch will go to delivering care boxes, simple every day things that they need but cannot purchase themselves.
Speeches were also given by Mrs. Natalia Margioli, FICS on behalf of ICS Greek branch and Mrs. Elina Kassotaki, FICS on behalf of Wista Hellas addressing a welcome to the attendees of the event!
Taking this opportunity ICS Cyprus Branch Committee agreed that this was also a good opportunity to honour the immediate past chairman of the Branch Mr. Yiannis
Shittas by presenting him with the ICS medallion. The medallion was handed over to Mr. Shittas by another ex chairman of the Branch Mr. Andreas Andreou.
At the end all participants raised their glasses on the name of “seafarers” currently on board and sailing all over the world!
