International Seafarer's Action Center Philippines

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has dedicated this year to the 1.5 million seafarers serving the daily need of more than 6.5 billion citizens of the world.

"Our intention is to pay tribute to you, the world’s 1.5 million seafarers " men and women from all over the globe " for the unique, and all too often over-looked, contribution you make to the well being of all of us," UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos said in a message declaring this year’s theme for World Maritime Day, “2010: Year of the Seafarer”.

He further said, "We will do so with deep appreciation, in recognition of the extraordinary service you render every day of your professional life, frequently under dangerous circumstances, in delivering, to the more than 6.5 billion people of the world, the wheat that makes our daily bread, the gas and oil that warms our homes or moves our vehicles and the gifts we will share and enjoy with our families and friends over this Festive Season.”

He also emphasized the important role seafarers play in helping to achieve safe, secure and efficient shipping on clean oceans and reassured them "at the "sharp end" of the industry, those who are responsible for the international regulatory regime and who serve shipping from ashore, do understand the extreme pressures that seafarers face and that, as a result, they will approach their own tasks with a genuine sympathy for the work that seafarers carry out.

Mitropolous concluded, “For seafarers the world over deserve our respect, recognition and gratitude and, during 2010, we at IMO are resolved to ensure that the world does take notice of your exceptional role and contribution and of the special debt that all of us owe to you. We thank you for that.”

source: imo.org

Manila, Philippines—The International Seafarers’ Action Center (ISAC) Philippines Foundation, Inc. has issued a critique on the proposed amendments on the Migrants Act of 1995, stressing that it will be detrimental not only to the seafarers, but to the migrant sector as a whole.

In a dinner held at the Greenhouse Restaurant in Quezon City last December 22, Atty. Edwin S. de la Cruz, ISAC president said although some of the amendments are commendable, there are some things lacking.