To mark World Maritime Day 2024, the Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) is underlining its commitment to seafarer safety, environmental protection and longstanding collaboration with maritime partners.

The MCA is also reiterating its drive to support the next generation of seafarers and maritime experts. This year’s World Maritime Day theme, ‘Navigating the future: safety first!’, looks to focus on ‘a collective effort to keep pace with the ongoing transformation in shipping’, and regulatory regimes that prioritise safety in the face of technological advance.

Several legislative enhancements came into effect in the UK this year, aimed at saving lives at sea, protecting marine environments and anticipating technological change, in areas of autonomous shipping and MASS (Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships).

Shipping Minister Mike Kane MP has written to Secretary-General Arsenio Antonio Dominguez Velasco to congratulate the IMO on World Maritime Day, which this year marks 50 years since the signing of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).

Maritime Minister Mike Kane MP said: “World Maritime Day offers an opportunity to renew our resolve to build a greener, more prosperous and dynamic maritime sector.

 “In this new era of technology, we’ve been working tirelessly to make sure UK maritime has the best protections and practices in the world – including cracking down on fraud, strengthening the rules on autonomous vessels and looking at how we can protect ships in the Red Sea.

 “We look forward to continuing this work to deliver the changes that will transform the industry for the better.”

Virginia McVea, Chief Executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: “The theme of World Maritime Day 2024 challenges us all to consider how new and emerging technologies may be harnessed.

“As we at MCA consider our role in enabling economic growth for the UK, our core purpose of maritime safety remains.

“World Maritime Day 2024 marks 50 years since the signing of SOLAS, and we celebrate lives saved at sea and refocus our energies on the IMO’s objectives for maritime going forward.”

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