Chennai, World Maritime Day

Father Anthony Baliswamy is the AOS Port Chaplain in Chennai (formerly Madras) in the region of Tamil Nadhu, South East India. Here he tells us how AOS worked in partnership with the National Maritime Day Celebration Committee.

"The main celebrations of the day began with a flag raising ceremony. Cadets from the local maritime schools paraded a guard of honour and marched past. Guests included representatives from numerous sectors of the maritime world such as port authorities, shipping companies, professional institutes and the Port Welfare Committee. In addition, some thirty visiting seafarers in port at that time were invited to participate.

The Company of Master Mariners (India), the Nautical Institute and the Institute of Marine Engineers together co-ordinated a seminar on the theme chosen for World Maritime Day 2006: “Technical Co-operation: IMO’s response to the 2005 World Summit ”. Later prizes were awarded to the Best All Rounder Cadet / Rating and to winners of various competitions.

Prizes were presented for a special art competition for children organised by AOS in association with SACEP, the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme, part of the UN Environment Programme. The competition was held at the Annai Velankanni Shrine, an important pilgrimage centre in Tamil Nadhu. Eighty five school children were able to participate in World Maritime Day by creating drawings and paintings on a maritime theme.

1st Prize, junior section V. Jayashree Valliammal Matric. Hr. Sec. School	2nd Prize, junior section Nisha Florina SBOA Matric. Hr. Sec. School
1st Prize, senior section Hepsiba Daniel Thomas Matric. Hr. Sec. School	2nd Prize, senior section S.V. Udhayakumar Rajah Muthaiah Hr. Sec. School

Some of the winning entries in the children's World Maritime Day art competition.

Other events held around World Maritime Day included a talk given at Chennai Seafarers’ Club by the eminent cardiologist and philantropist Dr K P Misra on the theme “The Power of Love”. There was also a grand exhibition in which numerous educational and professional bodies promoted courses and careers in the shipping industry.

At Venkatapuram, a slum area near Saidapet, a free medical camp was organised. Around two hundred people were given general medical examinations, counselling and health information."

Click here for contact details of AOS in Chennai

Click here to read more about World Maritime Day