PRESS RELEASE
9 June 2026
The Solomon Islands Maritime College (SIMC), Faculty of Science and Technology at Solomon Islands National University (SINU), will host the International Day of the Seafarers on Thursday, 25 June 2026 at the Ranadi Campus in Honiara.
This annual event brings together students, staff, maritime stakeholders, industry partners, and the wider community to recognise the vital contribution of seafarers to global trade and maritime safety.
This yearโs theme, โCarrying the world trade, carrying the risk,โ highlights both the essential role seafarers play in sustaining international commerce and the risks they face while working at sea.
The programme will begin with a formal parade and flag-raising ceremony involving SIMC students, staff, seafarers, security personnel, and invited school groups. The ceremony will set the tone for a day of reflection, celebration, and maritime awareness.
The official programme will feature welcome remarks, keynote presentations, cultural performances, and student-led items, including the special presentation โGirls at Seaโ, which showcases the growing participation of women in maritime careers.
A key highlight of the day will be a remembrance ceremony honouring seafarers who have lost their lives at sea or in service. The ceremony will include a moment of silence, prayers, and a wreath-laying at the waterfront jetty.
Another major attraction will be the 2026 Seafarers Big Show, a live maritime safety and rescue demonstration. The exercise will simulate a distress situation at sea and demonstrate coordinated rescue operations involving maritime authorities and SIMC trainees.
Following the formal programme, guests will participate in guided campus tours showcasing SIMCโs academic and practical training facilities. These will include exhibitions on nautical studies, marine engineering, survival training equipment, and internationally recognised maritime short courses, supported by live demonstrations from students and instructors.
Booths and displays from maritime organisations and partners will also be featured, providing opportunities for engagement, learning, and networking between students, industry representatives, and the public.
SIMC invites all stakeholders, families, students, and members of the public to attend and take part in this important annual event, which continues to promote maritime safety, skills development, and awareness of the seafaring profession.
Ends//