World Maritime Day 2025
Further to Circular Letter No.4959 of 10 January 2025, which included a background paper on this year’s theme, “Our Ocean – Our  Obligation – Our Opportunity”, the Secretary-General has the honour to enclose, in the annex, the text of his message on the occasion of World Maritime Day 2025. This year’s celebration will take place on Thursday, 25 September 2025.

The background paper, the Secretary-General’s message and his video message, are available on the World Maritime Day theme 2025 web page, which includes digital assets related to the theme. The Secretary-General’s video message is also available on IMO’s YouTube channel.

The Secretary-General wishes to remind all Member States and international organizations of the Calendar of Events available on the IMO website. The Calendar of Events provides, through an effective and easy-to-use platform, the opportunity for greater visibility of the many events held around the world in support of World Maritime Day, as well as other celebrations and activities by Member States and observer organizations.
More information on the Calendar of Events is available in Circular Letter No.3889.

In order to promote World Maritime Day and this year’s theme more widely, the Secretary-General encourages the authorities concerned to organize suitable events throughout the year and to light up, in blue colour, symbolic buildings on that day (see Circular Letter No.5022). Those organizing any such activities may inform the Secretariat and list them on the above-mentioned Calendar of Events. Social media participation is also encouraged via all social media platforms, using the hashtag #WorldMaritimeDay.