This time, like every year, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) took the theme "The International Shipping Carrier of the World Trade." Obviously the trades between the countries are done by ships. The ships carry the raw materials and the finished products from one country to another. Behind every machine there is a mechanic or an operator to run and the personnel behind running the ships are seafarers. The navigator navigates the ships; the engineer runs the engine, the ordinary seamen work hard in the team to smoothen the operation of ship trading from country to country. The rules, regulations, various conventions are promulgated from time to time to regulate world shipping.

The sailors have to maintain the safety standards and keep environmental pollution to the minimum. But, alas, if we analyse the trend of salary fixing of seafarers over last 10/15 years, we see a gloomy picture, the trend is downwards. Above all, the right of shore leave for seafarers, when the ship calls at a foreign port, is denied. Nowadays, many neighbouring countries also impose restrictions/tight control on ship crew's shore leave. After hard work in a unique environment onboard a ship for months together, already fatigued, when a seaman is not allowed to leave the ship, he can only feel greatly frustrated. Many countries are imposing strict control on shore leave as an anti-terrorism measure.

Following the observance of Maritime Day, I appeal to the world maritime community to look into the plight of the sailors.