The General Organisation of Sea Ports Bahrain (GOP) will host the Kingdom's first annual maritime festival from September 20 to 24 in support of World Maritime Day.

Announcing this strategic initiative, GOP said the event, to be held under the International Maritime Organisation (IMO)’s 2010 theme of the 'Year of the Seafarer,' will further boost the Kingdom' s standing in the global maritime landscape.

This year’s launch event will include activities specifically geared to past, current and future generations of Bahraini sea-goers, said a statement from GOP.

The United Nations had initiated 'World Maritime Day' via the IMO to commemorate the international maritime industry’s contribution towards the global economy, specifically in the shipping and logistics sectors.

Each year, WMD is held under a different theme. This year’s IMO theme aims to spread greater awareness of the maritime industry and focus attention on the importance of shipping safety, maritime security and the marine environment, it added.

It also pays tribute to the 1.5 million seafarers all over the globe for their unique contribution to society and in recognition of the risks they shoulder in the execution of their duties in an often hostile environment.

IMO member countries normally hold celebratory programmes on a day of their choice during the specified week.

Bahrain’s initiative has been designed to spread out the festivities over a longer period in order to increase accessibility and allow for more activities to be held.

On the launch of Bahrain Maritime Festival (BMF), Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa, chairman of GOP said: “We are proud to announce our plans for the launch of the GOP’s first maritime-themed festival to mark World Maritime Day 2010 and join the global initiative celebrating the 'Year of the Seafarer'.'

'Our aspiration is to hold BMF annually, each year customising the programme to fit the IMO’s chosen theme for that year.  While this year we have developed the activity line-up to target seafarers, we hope to build upon the event in the future and engage as broad an audience as possible,' he added.

Shaikh Daij said one of its key strategic objectives as laid out in Bahrain's five-year plan was to position the Kingdom as a global maritime centre, and BMF, as an embodiment of an initiative will aim to achieve this.

'Our ongoing commitment and dedication to being an active supporter of the maritime industry on an international level have helped us take a proactive approach to planning new initiatives and activities locally that will help boost out global standings”, Shaikh Daij added.

BMF 2010 will consist of four main activities spanning the week. These activities have been designed to generate greater awareness of Bahrain’s growing maritime industry among students, business executives and public, all of whom can rightly take pride in the Kingdom’s achievements and developments in the shipping and logistics industry.

The activities will include the ‘Year of the Seafarer’ Awards ceremony which will be held under the patronage of Shaikh Daij. Long-serving Bahraini seafarers who have served for twenty years and above in the maritime industry will be honoured and presented with an award during a dedicated reception.

A public campaign has been launched to call for nominations with the intention to honour all eligible Bahraini seafarers, whether current or retired.

Another unique aspect of this initiative will be the “Careers in Maritime” drive, complementing the International Maritime Organisation’s ongoing ‘Go to Sea’ campaign. This will include a tour of universities conducted jointly by GOP and APM Terminals Bahrain, the operator of Khalifa Bin Salman Port (KBSP), said Shaikh Daij.

'Featuring a series of lectures, this tour will enable students to learn from the maritime industry practitioners who will share their experience and knowledge. The tour will aim to encourage more Bahraini students to pursue careers in the maritime industry, thereby strengthening Bahrain’s international position as a maritime centre in the long-run.'

Additionally, a maritime photography exhibition will be held throughout the week which will be open to the public and will feature historic and contemporary sea-related images that will serve to capture the life of the seafarers at sea, and Bahrain’s ever-evolving maritime landscape, said a GOP statement.

Finally, a Seafarers’ Welfare Day is being organised by APMT, to be held at KBSP especially for seafarers visiting the port.  A special service offering free medical check-ups for all incoming seafarers will be provided, and a blood donation campaign will be held for APMT and GOP staff members.

The GOP joins many countries worldwide, including Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States to celebrate World Maritime Day. The event’s date varies by year and country but it is always celebrated during the last week of September, it added.-TradeArabia News Service