Coast Guard Announces 2009 World Maritime Day Parallel Event

New York City anchors national port events.

WASHINGTON – On behalf of the United States, the Coast Guard is the lead agency coordinating the International Maritime Organization’s 2009 World Maritime Day Parallel Event in New York City on October 16.

The World Maritime Day Parallel Event is an annual occurrence sponsored by the IMO that is held in different countries each year. The purpose is to focus attention on the importance of shipping safety, maritime security and the marine environment and to emphasize a particular aspect of IMO's work. The theme this year is “Climate Change: A Challenge for IMO too!”

“We are honored to be the hosts of the 2009 International Maritime Organization World Maritime Day Parallel Event,” said the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, Adm. Thad Allen. “The Parallel Event is an opportunity for the maritime community to come together with the public to celebrate the contributions of the maritime industry, as well as discuss and promote ways in which we can address areas important to us all.”

The event will draw representation from the IMO, the international and national maritime communities, the public and students from grammar schools through university. Other federal agencies that will be participating include the Department of State, the Environmental Protection Agency, and NOAA.

In addition to the main event in New York City, ports around the country will be encouraged to have similar events and roundtable discussions highlighting what they can do to address climate change impacts in their region. For more information on the 2009 World maritime Day Parallel Event, go to http://www.uscg.mil/worldmaritimeday/

Media contact: Thane Gilman (202) 372-1383, or E-mail: [email protected]