The Day of the Seafarer was celebrated for the first time a couple of years ago, following its establishment by a resolution adopted in 2010 by the Conference of Parties to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers. 25 June was the day when the last amendments to the Hours of Work and Manning Sea Convention were signed and the International Maritime Organisation announced it was going to be celebrated as the International Day of the Seafarer. Last year it was celebrated for the first time in Varna. There was a short workshop about the challenges of the maritime industry, the seafarer’s profession, and afterwards we organized a sea initiation ceremony and journey for children aboard the Kaliakra, and in the evening there was a concert for the families of the seafarers organized by Varna municipality in the open-air theater. There were performances by veteran seafarers and by local and national scale performers. There was a literary competition and a drawing competition – a drawing, a print or painting from people connected to the sea, laymen artists but maritime professionals. As of last year, we also celebrate the maritime industry; with the assistance of Varna Municipality, the Municipal Council and the mayor, a veteran captain and a chief mechanic were awarded medals for their service in their chosen profession.
Local Authority
Bulgaria