Message on World Maritime Day

世界海事日致辞

24 September 2020

2020年9月24日

The theme of this year's World Maritime Day – sustainable shipping for a sustainable planet – has gained extraordinary resonance as shipping has continued to transport more than 80 per cent of world trade, including vital medical supplies, food and other basic goods that are critical for the COVID-19 response and recovery.

今年世界海洋日的主题是“推动可持续航运，塑造可持续地球”，该主题产生了非常强烈的共鸣，因为航运仍占世界贸易运输量的80%以上，包括对COVID-19抗疫和恢复至关重要的关键医疗用品、食品和其他基本物资。

The COVID-19 pandemic has also highlighted the professionalism and sacrifice of the two million seafarers who serve on the world's merchant fleet.

COVID-19疫情彰显世界商业船队200万海员的专业素养和奉献精神。

I remain very concerned about the growing humanitarian and safety crisis facing hundreds of thousands of these indispensable workers. Despite the unprecedented conditions brought about by the pandemic, seafarers have continued to tirelessly support the often-invisible global logistics chain. Physically and mentally exhausted, away from their families and loved ones, their time at sea has now been extended far beyond the standards stipulated in international conventions, with some tours of duty now stretching more than 17 months. Fatigued seafarers cannot operate indefinitely, and disruptions to international shipping would have devastating consequences.

我对不可或缺的这批数十万劳动者所面临的日益严重的人道主义危机和安全危机仍然感到非常关切。尽管本次疫情造成空前严峻的情况，海员们仍在不懈努力，为往往隐形的全球物流链提供支持。他们身心俱疲，远离家庭和亲人，出海时间又远远超过国际公约规定的标准，有些人的履职时间已经长达17个月。疲惫的海员不能无限期作业，而国际航运中断将带来毁灭性后果。

I renew my appeal to Governments to address their plight by formally designating seafarers and other marine personnel as "key workers", ensuring safe crew changes and implementing the protocols developed by UN agencies, as well as the International Chamber of Shipping and the International Transport Workers' Federation, allowing stranded seafarers to be repatriated and others to join ships.

我再次呼吁各国政府纾解他们的困境，将海员和其他海事人员正式指定为“关键工作人员”，确保船员安全轮换，并执行联合国机构以及国际海运公会和国际运输工人联合会制定的规程，允许被困海员下船回国、其他海员登船上岗。

In the longer term, a sustainable shipping industry is vital. Shipping will play a central role in achieving most, if not all, of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals. But shipping activities must be balanced with the long-term health and biodiversity of the oceans. The UN's International Maritime Organization (IMO) has developed global standards which support cleaner and greener shipping. Governments and IMO must continue to work together to support the decarbonization of shipping and improved energy efficiency; the facilitation of shipping through increased digitalization, involving ports; and efforts to ensure the sustainability and protection of the workforce, including a focus on diversity.

从长远来看，可持续航运业至关重要。航运业将为实现17个可持续发展目标中的大部分乃至全部目标发挥核心作用。但航运活动必须与海洋的长期健康和生物多样性统筹兼顾。联合国国际海事组织（事组织）已制定支持更清洁、更绿色航运的全球标准。各国政府和海事组织必须继续共同努力，支持航运脱碳和提高能效；通过增强数字化促进航运（包括港口）；并努力确保劳动力的可持续性和保护，包括注重多样性。

Shipping can and must continue to make its contribution to the global economy without upsetting nature's delicate balance. The maritime sector underpins world trade and will continue to be essential for building a sustainable future for people and planet.

航运业可以而且必须在不破坏自然微妙平衡的情况下继续为全球经济做出贡献。海事部门支撑着世界贸易，对建设人类和地球的可持续未来仍至关重要。