Maritime Awareness Week Used to Engage Public on Blue Economy Opportunities
By: , October 3, 2025
Photo: Rudranath Fraser
The offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (MFAFT), in downtown Kingston, which were illuminated in blue in solidarity with similar activities taking place across the world at the request of the International Maritime Organisation to signify the opportunities to be derived from preservation of the world’s oceans.
Photo: Rudranath Fraser
Chair of the Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ), Corah-Ann Robertson Sylvester, in dialogue with Undersecretary for Trade and Ambassador to CARICOM at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (MFAFT), Ambassador Esmond Reid, at the World Maritime Day Illumination Ceremony, on Thursday, September 25. The offices of the MFAFT, in downtown Kingston, were illuminated in blue in solidarity with similar activities taking place across the world at the request of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), to signify the opportunities to be derived from preservation of the world’s oceans.The Full Story
Jamaica’s maritime community observed Maritime Awareness Week (MAW) from September 22 to 26, under the theme, ‘Our Ocean – Our Obligation – Our Opportunity’, which was also the IMO theme for World Maritime Day on September 25.
The week’s activities were launched with a Thanksgiving Service at the Arnold Road Seventh Day Adventist Church on Saturday, September 20. On Wednesday, September 24, the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) hosted the Maritime Town Parade at Half-Way Tree Transport Centre.
The event featured a march past by CMU cadets, CMU Cheerleaders flash mob, community and industry showcase booths and Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCJ) engagement. Thursday, September 25 was observed as World Maritime Day.
The Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ) hosted a cocktail reception and ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (MFAFT), where the building was illuminated with blue lights.
This was part of a global initiative by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to bring awareness to the 2025 theme. The MAJ also hosted a World Maritime Day webinar on Thursday, September 25.
The CMU staged its Maritime Mania and Open Day at the university’s Palisadoes Park main campus on Friday, September 26. The event featured an exhibitor village, guided campus tours, interactive challenges and a live outside broadcast. On Saturday, September 27, the Women in Maritime Caribbean (WiMAC), Jamaica Chapter, rounded out the week with a Breakfast Summit titled, ‘Charting an Ocean of Opportunities: Women Steering the Maritime Future’.
The observation of Maritime Awareness Week presented numerous opportunities for the shipping industry to welcome the public, especially students and young professionals, to engage with Jamaica’s blue economy opportunities, while advancing the IMO’s call to safeguard the ocean through collaboration, innovation, and responsible stewardship.
Speaking at the Illumination Ceremony, Chair of the MAJ, Corah-Ann Robertson-Sylvester, reaffirmed the Authority’s active role in environmental stewardship, noting the growing threats to ocean health from marine litter, unsustainable fishing practices, invasive species, and ship-related pollution.
She cited Jamaica’s recognition as an IMO lead partner country in addressing marine litter and the spread of invasive aquatic species through ballast water and ship hull fouling.
The Chair further advocated for greater collaboration between government and private sector stakeholders in addressing pressing challenges in the maritime space, including decarbonisation and digitisation of the shipping industry.
For his part, President of the CMU, Professor Andrew Spencer, highlighted that the ocean is the backbone of global trade and commerce as well as the main artery of the country’s economy, environment, communities and shared prosperity.
“Let us therefore reaffirm our commitment to stewardship of the seas, to advancing maritime safety and sustainability, and to leaving behind a stronger, safer and more resilient ocean for those who will come after us,” he said.