The International Seafarers' Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) is delighted to announce that it will be holding an event to celebrate the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Day of the Seafarer on 25th June 2016.

The celebrations – aimed at seafarers and their families - will be held in Manila, the Philippines, at the SMX Conference Centre. The event will be addressed by the IMO Secretary-General, Mr Kitack Lim. It is supported by the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), AMOSUP, the International Maritime Employers Council (IMEC), Inmarsat, and Wrist Ship Supply.

The Day of the Seafarer was established by the IMO in 2010 with the objective of recognising the important role of seafarers. The annual event also raises awareness of life at sea, and engages support for seafarers' welfare. ISWAN marked the first ever Day of the Seafarer in 2010 by holding a similar successful event in Manila.

The event will follow the theme of 2016's Day of the Seafarer 'At Sea for All' and will include music and cultural acts as well as a health zone for seafarers and a children's activity area. Two thousand attendees, comprising of seafarers and their families, are expected to attend.

Mr Roger Harris, Executive Director of ISWAN, said: "We are extremely pleased to put on this Day of the Seafarer event in the Philippines where so many of the world's seafarers come from. The event will highlight the key role that seafarers play in our everyday lives."

The Day of the Seafarer event will be preceded by the 2016 International Seafarers' Welfare Awards ceremony on the evening of 24th June that will be held at the Manila Hotel.

Sponsorship opportunities are available and can be viewed here.

For more information concerning the event, please contact Caitlin Vaughan at caitlin.vaughan@iswan.org.uk or Roger Harris at roger.harris@iswan.org.uk