Recognising the Unsung Heroes of Global Trade and the Challenges They Face in South Africa

Every year on 25 June, the world commemorates the International Day of the Seafarer, a day established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to acknowledge the invaluable contribution made by the more than 1.8 million seafarers who keep global trade moving. Without seafarers, there would be no global economy. Nearly 90% of world trade is transported by sea, delivering food, fuel, medicines, manufactured goods and raw materials to every corner of the globe. Yet despite their indispensable role, seafarers often remain invisible to the public and underappreciated by policymakers.