Webinar to Celebrate the Publication of “The World of the Seafarer”

Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, President of the World Maritime University (WMU), Professor Helen Sampson of Cardiff University, Dr. Victor Gekara, and participants to the webinar, I am delighted to celebrate with all of you the publication of The World of the Seafarer as the ninth volume from the WMU Studies in Maritime Affairs. The book also brings together the work done at The Nippon Foundation’s Fellowship Program at the Cardiff University’s Seafarers International Research Centre (SIRC). I would once again like to show my respect to Professor Sampson and Dr. Gekara, the co-editors of the book.

The Nippon Foundation recognizes that “crises of the oceans will threaten human survival.” For more than half a century, therefore, we have grappled with the silent cries of the mother seas. In particular, we recognize that development of the maritime community based on international maritime order is essential for sustainable use of the oceans. In this light, in addition to the Fellowship Program at SIRC, we established the International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU), which has 69 member organizations from 36 countries, to set common standards for Global Maritime Professionals. This is an effort to produce maritime professionals of a high caliber in maritime universities around the world so that we can improve the status of seafarers in society.

In this context of improving the status of seafarers, the publication of The World of the Seafarer is truly delightful. As the theme of this year’s World Maritime Day is “Seafarers at the core of shipping’s future,” the research is particularly timely. However, when we think about the magnitude of the oceans and the diverse range of maritime issues, no single research or field of expertise can solve today’s complicated web of ocean-related issues alone. We sincerely hope that you would share your research results and expertise across organizations, national borders, and disciplines, and work with many partners for the future of “the oceans that are a shared asset of humanity.” Once again, I would like to congratulate you on the publication of The World of the Seafarer. Let us work together in the effort to pass on the oceans in a healthy state for the next 1000 years. Thank you.

＊This video message is available at The Nippon Foundation YouTube.