International Seafarer’s Day marked in Black Sea city of Batumi

Georgia’s Black Sea city of Batumi on Saturday marked International Seaferer’s Day with a ceremony handing out prizes to sailing captains and students of Batumi State Maritime Academy.

Cadets, Coast Guard officers and sailors marched from the city’s seaside boulevard strip to its port on the backdrop of a brass band performance to celebrate the date, the Economy Ministry said.

Photo: Ministry of Economy/Facebook.

They were addressed by officials of the regional and central Government, with Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili highlighting the increased international interest in offering Georgian sailors employment opportunities due to their “high qualification, endurance and bravery”. 

He also addressed “challenges” in the Black Sea region amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, wishing Ukrainian sailors a safe return to their peaceful work soon.

Photo: Ministry of Economy/Facebook.

As part of the occasion, the awards were handed out to long-distance sailing captains and senior mechanics, with five students of the Academy receiving scholarships by Lali Khvedelidze, the Chancellor of Batumi Navigation Training University.

Nine other students were selected for scholarships for the 2022-2023 academic year by The Maritime Transport Agency, Bank of Georgia and Toyota Centre Batumi.

Photo: Ministry of Economy/Facebook.

A minute of silence was also observed at the event in memory of the sailors who died in the line of duty, with participants also paying homage through the customary ceremony of lowering a wreath into the sea as vessels in the port sounded their horns.

The event later continued next to the Colonnades in the boulevard with an exhibition hosted by the Produce in Georgia state agency and in the educational and technological pavilion of Technopark Batumi, with the Maritime Academy Band and the Sukhishvilebi Georgian National Ballet troupe offering performances.

Photo: Ministry of Economy/Facebook.

Georgia has joined other maritime countries in celebrating International Seafarer’s Day with various events since 2011.