The North American World Maritime Day conference, hosted from 8:00 - 4:30 on October 23rd and then continuing from 8:00 - 12:00 on October 24th will demonstrate its vast partnerships with the presence of Mexican maritime interests and senior representatives from both Canada and the United States. The World Maritime Day Conference features opening addresses from the Governor of the State of Qinta Roo, Secretary General Sekimizu, and RADM Paul Thomas of the United States Coast Guard. Topics such as Annex 1: ending OWS violations, waste reception facilities, education and training of future mariners and the question of: Should Mexico, Central and South America have and ECA will also be addressed. Day two of the conference will focus on green ports and safety at sea and in offshore drilling, which will have contributors such as John McDonald of ABS, Bass Copes of Mammoet Salvage, Richard Pruitt of Royal Caribbean Cruises and RADM Paul Thomas of the United States Coast Guard. 

Koji Sekimizu was elected Secretary-General of IMO assuming that role at the beginning of 2012. Having initially worked as a ship inspector at the Ministry of Transport of Japan, Mr. Sekimizu joined IMO in 1989 and has been involved in the development of many important Conventions and Codes, with responsibility for maritime safety, security, anti-piracy measures and marine environment issues.
In his capacity as Director of the Marine Environment Division (MED), he led the Marine Environment Division in discharging its responsibilities to support the work of among other things the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) in dealing with the phase-out schedule of the single-hull tankers and the Condition Assessment Scheme proposed in the aftermath of the Erika (1999) and Prestige (2002) incidents and handling a number of emerging new environmental issues including harmful anti-fouling paints, ballast water management, ship recycling, particularly sensitive sea areas (PSSAs) and greenhouse gas emissions from ships.

"Since 2006, we have been producing a North American World Maritime Day to honor the maritime industry and its value to global society," stated NAMEPA Executive Director and Co-Founder, Carleen Lyden-Kluss. "We are honored that this year's event will be held for the first time in Mexico, reflecting Mexico's important position as a maritime nation and its commitment to the maritime industry and the preservation of the marine environment."
With a great note of gratitude to Groupo Mexico for their sponsorship, admission to all events is complimentary to all interested parties.

NAMEPA's Conference and Gala Dinner sponsors are: Blank Rome Maritime LLC, Clay Maitland, Navios Maritime Acquisition Corporation, Sea Research Foundation, Groupo Mexico, Stericycle, Mammoet Salvage, PMI Comercio Internacional, Transport Canada, TRAER, Maine Log and Tradewinds