Day of the Seafarer 2026 gave us an opportunity to recognise the people who keep global trade moving. This year’s International Maritime Organization theme, “Carrying global trade. Carrying the risks.”, is especially relevant at a time when many seafarers are working in more complex operating conditions.
Across our offices and vessels, we marked the day with activities centred on one thing. Showing our seafarers that we value them, support them, and stand with them. Our focus was on practical support, family engagement, and visible recognition across sea and shore. We continue to support more than 27,000 seafarers across our global network.
In a message to colleagues and seafarers, Dr Harry Banga, Executive Chairman and Founder of The Caravel Group, said:
“The contribution of seafarers reaches far beyond the vessel. It supports families, strengthens communities, and sustains national economies. We should take real pride in it. Through our investment in training and in IMI, and the careers we open at sea, we remain committed to the future of this profession.”
Unveiling Pulse
As part of our Day of the Seafarer initiatives, we unveiled Pulse, our official app for seafarers. Built for life onboard and on leave, Pulse brings key information, support and updates into one place. It is designed to support every stage of a seafarer’s journey with us, from assignment to time at sea and the transition home.
Through Pulse, seafarers can manage assignments, keep documents secure, track career progress and sea time, and stay connected with the wider Fleet community. The app also gives access to wellbeing support and practical resources when they are needed.
Celebrations across our offices
Across our global offices, teams organised local celebrations to bring seafarers and families together.
In China, our onshore colleagues welcomed Chinese seafarers and their families for a celebratory lunch. In the Philippines, our teams hosted a Fleet Care Family Outreach Programme for seafarers and their families. The sessions focused on family wellbeing, mental health, emotional resilience, and the welfare services available to Filipino seafarers and their families. Families also joined an open forum to ask questions, share experiences, and learn more about the support available both onboard and ashore.
In India, celebrations took place across our nine branch offices and three Mumbai offices. Seafarers joined colleagues for cake-cutting, interaction, and informal networking. Across our Andheri and Seawoods offices, teams also organised a mini exhibition titled “Carrying global trade. Carrying the risks.” Through everyday items, the exhibition showed how much the world depends on the work seafarers do each day. It also highlighted the risks they continue to manage in the line of duty, including geopolitical tension and piracy.
Our teams in crewing markets also shared mini messages of thanks and recognition with seafarers. These simple gestures gave local teams another way to show appreciation and stay connected with the people we support every day.
Support onboard
The day was also celebrated across our vessels with activities designed for seafarers onboard.
Our Quality Catering Division shared a special Day of the Seafarer menu with chief cooks across the fleet, so seafarers could enjoy a meal to mark the occasion. This was a simple but meaningful way to recognise the day across vessels and make the celebration visible onboard.
Senior leaders also connected directly with seafarers at sea. Executive Directors, Product Directors, and members of the technical team made calls to vessels under management to speak with seafarers personally. These conversations recognised the risks seafarers are facing today, reinforced the support available from our FPD and Fleet Care teams, and restated our commitment to harassment-free ships and clear reporting channels.
We also ran creative activities onboard to encourage participation and reflection. A poster drawing competition, based on the IMO theme, invited seafarers to interpret “Carrying global trade. Carrying the risks.” in their own way.
Recognising our seafarers, every day
Day of the Seafarer is more than a celebration. It is a chance to make our support visible and to remind seafarers and their families that they matter to us.
This year, that meant practical action across sea and shore. It meant direct leadership calls, family outreach, local celebrations, onboard meals, creative competitions, and the launch of Pulse. Each activity was a way of recognising the contribution seafarers make every day and the pressures many continue to face. We are proud to honour our seafarers and to reaffirm our commitment to supporting them, onboard and onshore.
.jpeg)
.png)
.svg)