The official World Maritime Day Parallel Event has opened in Istanbul, Turkey (4-6 November) with keynote addresses from IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim and Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım. Mr Lim spoke on the World Maritime Day theme of Shipping: Indispensable to the World, emphasizing that almost everyone on the planet is dependent on shipping, but relatively few are aware of it. The event includes a two-day symposium looking at the challenges and opportunities facing shipping today followed by an opportunity for delegates to experience some of Turkey’s rich maritime culture.