WORLD MARITIME DAY 2025 – Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity

Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity

The World Maritime Day theme for 2025 “Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity” reflects the ocean’s vital role in the world economy, with more than 80% of global trade transported by sea. The ocean is a source of jobs and food for millions of people, a home for countless marine species, and a regulator of the planet’s climate, mitigating the impacts of climate change. 

As the largest sector operating in the ocean space, shipping has a central role to play in the protection of the marine environment and management of ocean resources.

IMO’s long-standing commitment on this issue is evident in the robust global regulatory framework supporting cleaner, safer seas, and a growing portfolio of technical assistance initiatives to support ocean protection in 176 Member States.

The theme emphasizes the link to wider global efforts to protect the ocean including the conclusion of UN Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), the negotiation of a new instrument to address plastic pollution and the third UN Ocean Conference in June 2025. 

The theme will allow all stakeholders to showcase the deep interconnection of shipping and IMO in the ocean space, highlighting the importance of collaboration and coordination to ensure the sustainable and safe use of ocean resources.