THE Hong Kong Shipowners Association marked the International Maritime Organisation's Day of the Seafarer this week, celebrating the theme, "It came by sea, and I can't live without it," to serve as a reminder that many consumer goods are brought to us by ship.

The day was to thank and pay respects to the multitude of seafarers serving on 50,000 ships trading worldwide for their dedication in delivering goods and passengers safely to their destinations.

The move to devote June 25 to the day of the seafarer was decided upon exactly two years ago by delegates on the last day of the diplomatic conference held in Manila, to revise the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Convention.

"While we thank our seafarers today," said Arthur Bowring, the managing director of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association, "we must not forget the 178 seafarers still being held hostage by pirates off Somalia."