On December 3, 2018, the United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO) hosted a special event at the headquarters in London to celebrate the 100th Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 100). As one of the important programs of the celebration, Shanghai Maritime University presented a song “For a Better Future” at the conference.

2018 is the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the International Maritime Organization. The theme of this year’s World Maritime Day is “The 70th Anniversary of the International Maritime Organization: Our heritage – better shipping and better future.” Around this theme, Shanghai Maritime University and the International Maritime Lecturers Association (IMLA) worked together to create a song for the International Maritime Organization, “For a Better Future.” This song is not only a tribute to the 70th anniversary of the International Maritime Organization, but also expresses the feelings, will and ideals of Shanghai Maritime University and global maritime people in inheriting the maritime spirit to motivate teachers and students of global maritime education and training institutions become more courageous to take on the mission. Let more people care about the ocean, protect the ocean, and dedicate themselves into shipping industry, making ” better shipping and better future “. During a few months, this song has won the hearts of the people with its high spirit and beautiful melodies. It has been widely sung in the international maritime education community.

On July 11 2018, Shanghai Maritime University, Maritime Technology Cooperation Center-Asia and International Maritime Lecturers Association jointly hosted the “Global Forum on Green Shipping in celebration of IMO 70th Anniversary” held in Shanghai. Kitack Lim, the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization attended the forum and enjoyed the live of the song by the Shanghai Maritime University Student Chorus. At the ceremony, Jin Yongxing, the Chairman of the Shanghai Maritime University and the chairman of the MTCC-Asia, presented the CD memorial frame of the song to Secretary-General Kitack Lim. Currently, the CD memorial frame is collected by the International Maritime Organization and displayed in its headquarters building in London.

The Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) is the highest technical institution of the International Maritime Organization and is composed of all member states, with 1-2 committee meetings per year. The 100th meeting of the MSC was held in December this year. To this end, the International Maritime Organization has organized a special celebration, and more than 170 member states attended the event to celebrate. The song created by Shanghai Maritime University was an important program for the celebration of the conference and was heard throughout the IMO headquarters.

CD memorial frame displayed at the IMO Headquarters Building in London, UK

For a Better Future

[Verse 1]

There goes the cloud-wracked sea

And the storm rumbling

No fear, no fear

Initiative from the Embankment bow leading

Marvel is the steering of that piloting vessel

Organizing us 70’s forward

We can embark and sail on

With the blessing and bearing

[Chorus]

We’d ship across every ocean

And navigate every ambition

Just to be with the heritage

And forward to a better future

[Verse 2]

There comes the Oriental harbour

We berth and re-sail

Full ahead, full ahead

Shipping towards our glorious missions

Maritime nature is inscribed in us all

United we will accomplish the voyage

Spend all the time

Keeping you safe and sound

[Chorus]

We’d ship across every ocean

And navigate every ambition

Just to be with the heritage

And forward to a better future

[Final Chorus]

We’d ship across every ocean

And navigate every ambition

Just to be with the ever-blue heritage

And forward to a better sound future

Cause we need you to deserve

That pride of the greener