Georgia’s Black Sea resort city Batumi celebrates Seafarer’s Day

Georgia’s Black Sea coastal city Batumi is today celebrating the Day of the Seafarer 2016.

Batumi is home to Georgia’s State Maritime Academy, where thousands of young men and women learn practical skills that can be put to use while working on ships that spend months at sea.

A number of events were planned to celebrate the day including flashmobs by the Academy students and a grand concert at the end of the day.

Batumi State Maritime Academy students march Batumi. Photo by Georgia's Economy Ministry

Georgia’s Economy Minister Dimitry Kumsishvili travelled to Batumi to personally congratulate future seafarers and tell them how proud the nation was of its mariners.

Today we have 9,500 seafarers and their contribution to Georgia’s economy is more than 180 million GEL,” the Minister said.

A seafarer is a brave person with a great sense of responsibility who can overcome difficulties and that’s why they are so appreciated.”

The Batumi State Maritime Academy has 2,000 students, of which 15 are foreigners. Photo by Georgia's Economy Ministry.

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has celebrated the Day of the Seafarer on June 25 annually since 2011.

The campaign theme this year is: "At Sea For All".

IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim said: "This year, on June 25th, the Day of the Seafarer, we are once again asking people everywhere to show their appreciation for the seafarers that quietly, mostly unnoticed, keep the wheels of the world in motion".