U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Monday hailed the contribution of the 1.5 million merchant seafarers whose work is central to the livelihoods of billions of people worldwide, while also drawing attention to the perils they face on a daily basis. “The vast majority of the world's cargo must be transported by sea. This task is difficult enough in safe waters, but in high-risk areas, where seafarers live with the constant threat of piracy, it can be deadly," Ban said in a statement marking the Day of the Seafarer. “I have made addressing this complex problem a priority in the U.N.'s action agenda for the coming five years," Ban said. “United Nations agencies, including the International Maritime Organization (IMO), have achieved real progress by working with partners to combat piracy. But we must do more to offer solutions that include security, deterrence and alternative livelihoods." “At the same time, we must recognize the outstanding courage of seafarers who continue their work amidst formidable peril," the U.N. Chief added.
