BREMERHAVEN, Germany – On 25 June 2026, the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Berlin commemorated the Day of the Seafarer with two back-to-back events in Bremerhaven, Germany, bringing together seafarers of Filipino and other nationalities, port officials, maritime community leaders, university students, and local government partners in a day of advocacy, fellowship, and recognition.
The afternoon opened with an Embassy-hosted activity at the Seaman’s Club Welcome, Bremerhaven. Ambassador Maria Teresa T. Almojuela delivered the keynote message on the theme “Advancing International Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Well-Being of International Seafarers.”
Amb. Maria Teresa T. Almojuela delivered her keynote message to the seafarers on 25 June 2026 at the Seaman’s Club Welcome, Bremerhaven.
Speaking to an audience of seafarers and port officials, the Ambassador underscored that seafarers must be recognized as rights-holders, not merely as workers in a logistical chain, and called on governments, industry, and international organizations to translate global commitments into concrete protections.
The Ambassador highlighted that the Philippines is home to over 400,000 to 500,000 seafarers serving on vessels across the globe, representing approximately 20 to 25 percent of the world’s maritime workforce. She drew attention to key international and domestic milestones in advancing seafarers’ rights: UN Human Rights Council Resolution 56/18, the first standalone resolution dedicated to seafarers’ human rights, and the Manila Declaration on Seafarers’ Human Rights, Safety, and Well-Being, issued in September 2025.
Ambassador Almojuela also noted Germany’s early endorsement of the Manila Declaration and the shared responsibilities of the Philippines and Germany as current IMO Council members for 2026 to 2027, including their co-chairmanship in international humanitarian law processes aimed at strengthening protections for seafarers and critical maritime infrastructure.
Close to 60 seafarers attended the Embassy’s event, co-sponsored by the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) – Berlin.
Left photo: Amb. Almojuela with Harbour Master Stephan Berger, Prof. Dr. Suzette Suarez, Mr. Thomas Reinold, Senator Kristina Vogt (first row), Mr. Robert Howe, Mr. Matthias Ristau , Prof. Dr. Ivan Krämer and Pastor Uwe Baumhauer (second row). Right photo: Ambassador Almojuela delivers her opening remarks at the Seafarers Day event of the Seaman’s Mission Bremerhaven.
Later that afternoon, the Embassy joined the Seafarers event organized by the Club. Over 120 attendees joined the celebration which featured a basketball tournament, games and barbeque. To open the event, Ambassador Almojuela delivered her remarks on the challenges faced by seafarers in times of crisis, and what the international community is doing to protect the rights, safety, and well-being of seafarers.
At 18:00, attendees gathered in anticipation as three long blasts of the horn rang out from vessels docked at the Port of Bremerhaven, a new tradition initiated by Captain Stephan Berger, Harbour Master and Head of Port Authority Bremen, and current Vice-President of the International Harbour Masters’ Association, as a symbolic tribute to seafarers worldwide.
Top photo: Seafarers and attendees awaited and cheered for the three long blasts from the vessels at port. Bottom photo: Seafarers, guests, and community members cheer for the Day of the Seafarer, lead by Prof. Dr. Iven Krämer.
The day’s programme was organized in close coordination with Pastor Uwe Baumhauer and Deacon Thomas Reinold of the Seaman’s Mission Bremerhaven. Among the attendees were Hon. Kristina Vogt, Senator for Economic Affairs, Ports and Transformation of Bremerhaven; Captain Stephan Berger, Head of Port Authority Bremen and Harbour Master; Prof. Dr. Iven Krämer, Head of Department for Port Economics, Infrastructure and Shipping at the office of Senator Vogt; Mr. Robert Howe, General Manager of BremenPorts; Mr. Matthias Ristau, General Secretary of the German Seaman’s Mission; Mr. Magnus Deppe, Manager of the Seaman’s Mission Bremen; and Prof. Dr. Suzette Suarez of the Hochschule Bremen.
Ambassador Almojuela joins the seafarers and community members for photos.
The day’s events were a special opportunity for the Philippine Embassy to bring recognition and solidarity to Filipino seafarers far from home. With the Philippines among the world’s foremost suppliers of maritime personnel, the Embassy reaffirmed its commitment to championing the welfare, rights, and dignity of every Filipino seafarer, wherever they may be sailing. –END.
