The President of Georgia congratulated Georgian sailors on the International Day of Sailors. Mikheil Saakashvili addressed the students of the Batumi Maritime Academy and spoke about the development plans of the country. The Head of State focused attention on the importance of their profession and the risks accompanying it.

Georgia is celebrating the International Day of Sailors for the second time in its capacity as a member of International Maritime Organization. There are 18,000 sailors currently in the country employed at various maritime companies. This year, the Batumi Maritime Academy is hosting the event. With the initiative of the President of Georgia, the symbolism of the sailors’ uniform has changed (Soviet attributes removed) and it is now in compliance with European standards.

The Head of State decorated the long distance sailing captains Avtandil Katsibaia, Giorgi Unapqoshvili, and Irakli Sharabidze who is the rector of the Batumi Maritime University, with the Medal of Honor for their contribution to the development of the maritime sphere in Georgia.

Also in attendance at the event were the sailors freed from the captivity of Somalian pirates.