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World Maritime Day - last Thursday of September, IMO observance since 2017

World Maritime Day on the last Thursday of September is an International Maritime Organization observance established in 2017 to highlight the importance of shipping safety, security, and environmental protection. Established to mark the founding date of the IMO. Not a public holiday.

UN

International observancePublished October 15, 2026

At a glanceInternational observance
Observed in
UN
When
September
Frequency
Nth weekday of a month
Type
Days off
Varies by country
Public status
Varies by country; consult local government gazette
Last reviewed: October 15, 2026
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World Maritime Day on the last Thursday of September is an International Maritime Organization (IMO) observance established in 2017 to highlight the importance of shipping safety, security, and environmental protection. The day is policy-focused, not a public holiday.

The one-line summary

IMO observance on the last Thursday of September. Established 2017. Focuses on shipping safety, security, and environmental protection. Observed in major port cities globally. Not a public holiday.

Origin and history

World Maritime Day was established by the IMO Assembly in November 2017, marking the 70th anniversary year of the IMO\'s founding. The IMO itself was created in 1948 in Geneva under UN auspices and has been headquartered in London since 1982. The 2017 designation formalised what had been an annual IMO practice of focusing a day on maritime issues.

The day comes at the end of September, just before the IMO\'s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) and Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) sessions in October. The annual IMO theme is announced months in advance and influences national maritime authorities\' programming.

175IMO member states
80%Global trade by volume carried by ship
1948Year IMO was founded

Annual themes

The IMO publishes an annual theme. Recent themes include "Navigating the future: safety first" (2024), "MARPOL at 50 - Our commitment goes on" (2023, marking the 50th anniversary of the MARPOL pollution convention), "Seafarers are at the core of shipping\'s future" (2022), and "Seafarers: at the heart of shipping\'s future" (2021).

The 2024 theme focused on emerging risks from autonomous ships, decarbonisation pressures, and cyber threats. The 2023 theme marked 50 years of MARPOL, the IMO\'s most successful environmental treaty, which has cut oil pollution from ships by over 60% since 1973.

🇵🇦
Panama
The Panama Maritime Authority is one of the largest ship registries globally (16% of world fleet). The Panama Canal Authority hosts major events each September.
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Liberia
Liberia\'s open ship registry is the second-largest globally (15% of world fleet by tonnage). Liberian maritime events in Monrovia draw international delegations.
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Singapore
Singapore is the world\'s largest transshipment hub. The Maritime and Port Authority hosts the major World Maritime Day events in Southeast Asia.
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China
China is the world\'s largest shipbuilder and a top-five ship registry. Shanghai and Ningbo ports host annual maritime-themed cultural events each September.
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Greece
Greece owns the world\'s largest merchant fleet by tonnage. Piraeus hosts events each September, with major shipping magnates attending.
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Germany
Germany\'s Hamburg port hosts Europe\'s largest World Maritime Day observance, drawing 200+ shipping industry leaders each year.

Controversies and criticism

World Maritime Day has been criticised by environmental groups as too industry-friendly. The day is hosted by the IMO, a UN agency whose members include both coastal states and shipping registries - and the latter have historically resisted aggressive decarbonisation timelines. Greenpeace and Transport & Environment have campaigned for the day to focus more on shipping\'s 3% share of global CO2 emissions.

The IMO has responded with increasingly ambitious decarbonisation targets, including a 2023 strategy to reach net-zero shipping emissions by 2050. Critics note that compliance mechanisms remain weak and the targets are non-binding.

In other countriesWorld Maritime Day should not be confused with World Oceans Day (UN, June 8, broader marine conservation focus) or World Seafarer Day (IMO, June 25, focuses on seafarer welfare).

Related observances

September and October feature many global observances. Related days include World Oceans Day (UN, June 8), World Environment Day (UN, June 5), and World Day Against Child Labour (UN, June 12). World Maritime Day is the only observance explicitly focused on international shipping governance.

Sources

International Maritime Organization archives2017IMO Annual Theme publication2024MARPOL Convention 50-year review2023UN IMO founding documents1948

Frequently asked questions

When is World Maritime Day 2026?

Thursday, September 24, 2026. World Maritime Day is observed on the last Thursday of September each year. In 2026, that date falls on September 24.

Who established World Maritime Day?

World Maritime Day was established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Assembly in 2017, marking the IMO's 70th anniversary year (IMO was founded in 1948 in Geneva). The day highlights shipping's contribution to global trade and the IMO's regulatory work.

What is the purpose of World Maritime Day?

The IMO states the day aims to "focus on the importance of shipping safety, maritime security, and environmental protection." Each year carries a specific theme - 2024 was "Navigating the future: safety first"; 2023 was "MARPOL at 50 - Our commitment goes on" (50 years of the MARPOL pollution convention).

How is World Maritime Day observed?

IMO headquarters in London hosts a major conference each year. National maritime authorities host events in port cities (Hamburg, Singapore, Shanghai, New York, Houston). Maritime academies run training programmes, and the IMO Secretary-General releases a message. The day is not a public holiday but is widely observed in port cities.

Which countries observe World Maritime Day most actively?

Panama, Liberia, Marshall Islands, and Singapore (the four largest ship registries by tonnage) host major events. China, Greece, and Japan (largest shipbuilders) also observe prominently. Coastal cities from Hamburg to Shanghai to Mumbai host port-side observances.

How is World Maritime Day different from other maritime observances?

World Maritime Day (IMO, last Thursday of September) is distinct from the UN's World Oceans Day (June 8, broader marine conservation focus) and the International Maritime Organisation's separate World Seafarer Day (June 25, focuses on seafarer welfare). World Maritime Day is the IMO's flagship observance.

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