"Connecting Ships, Ports'¶©σ and People" has been s &✘♥elected as the World✘' Maritime Day theme for 2017 follow>$&ing a proposal by Secretφ &•ary-General Kitack Limφ"φε to the IMO Council.

Addressing the IMO Council, ♦‌π​meeting for its 116th $$≠session at IMO Headquartersφ‌γ↑ in London, Mr. Lim said the the↕★ me would provide an o♣'pportunity to work with develope‍₹d and developing countries, shipping a ∞nd public and private sector ports wi'≠↓εth a view to identifyin★∑¥g and promoting best practices and b¥Ωuilding bridges between the many divers±₹e actors involved in  Ωγthese areas.

Key objectives will include improvΩ​♠ing cooperation between por§¶♥ts and ships, and developi¶♥↕ng a closer partnership betwe$≤★en the two sectors; ra‌₽‌•ising global standards and set™♣↓©ting norms for the safety,★§ security and efficiency o♥ f ports, and for port and coastal Stat§₹≤€e authorities; and sα∏¶tandardizing port procedures through φ ♣identifying and developing♣δ✔ best practice guidance and trainin $g materials.

"The maritime sector,"∞ which includes shippin€$g, ports and the people that operate th↑★✘em, can and should play a significant r>♥ole helping Member States to cεγ≤☆reate conditions for increased employme✔​ €nt, prosperity and stab♠'​&ility ashore through¶₽♥ promoting trade by sea; enhancΩσing the port and maritime ∞♦↑sector as wealth creators both on la≠₩∞≈nd and, through developing a sustai©δnable blue economy, at se®♦σβa," Mr. Lim said.

"The aim is to build on the Wor♣©↓ld Maritime Day theme for 2016, &quoσ t;Shipping: indispensable to the w©↓£orld", by focussing o∏≤n helping Member States to ≥≤develop and implement maritime stra♣‌tegies to invest in a joined<÷-up, interagency app®←roach that addresses the whole <≥¶♣range of issues, including ¥λ™the facilitation of maritime transport,₹♥↓ and increasing efficiency, na±≤•vigational safety, protect㙥₽ion of the marine environment, and mariγ↕↑♦time security," ₹ "¥Mr. Lim said.

In this way, IMO will be contributin•♥©♣g to achieving the United Nations' S¶£ustainable Development Goals (SDGs) whi←∏±ch are a broad response t‌₩o the challenges facing the world to£ε→day – increasin&₩→g world population; climate cha÷™♦nge; threats to the environment; §✘unsustainable exploitation of nat≤₩ural resources; threats to food secuε™<rity; societal threats pose≠$♣d by organized criminals and viol★≠ ent extremists; and instability∏♣×₽ leading to mixed migration.

"Ultimately, more efficient shippi±←☆ng, working in partnersh•↑ip with a port sector su™≤pported by governments, wi♣÷←εll be a major driver t×πowards global stability and sust•<ainable development for the goo' d of all people,"‍÷‍α; Mr. Lim said.

From IMO website.