Opinion: Why World Maritime Day is important

The Nautilus on her 'sail past' for World Maritime Day to honour the Kiwis who have volunteered with Mercy Ships.
The Nautilus on her 'sail past' for World Maritime Day to honour the Kiwis who have volunteered with Mercy Ships. Photo credit: Michael Bain

OPINION: Today is World Maritime Day. A day to acknowledge the maritime industry and all that it contributes to our society. But despite our strong connection to the seas and our world class maritime industry, World Maritime Day is relatively unknown in New Zealand.

This year's theme is "Connecting ships, ports and people", so highlighting an organisation that encompasses all of that seemed a perfect way to not just acknowledge the maritime industry, but also to raise awareness of the significance of the day itself.

For me, the organisation that encompasses this year's theme so perfectly is Mercy Ships New Zealand, who celebrated World Maritime Day with a memorable trip on board the Nautilus, the Maritime Museum's newest addition.

In doing so they paid honour to the numerous Kiwis who have given their time to volunteer over the forty years since the very first Mercy Ships vessel set sail under the command of Kiwi captain Ben Applegate.

Mercy Ships New Zealand is part of an international charity making a difference in the lives of others by providing life-saving operations to the poor of Africa, with around forty Kiwis volunteering their skills and time aboard every year.

Their flagship Africa Mercy, currently in Cameroon for the first time, sails from port to port providing those essential surgeries onboard, making it a modern day floating hospital.

Mercy Ships NZ staff aboard the Nautilus after their 'sail past' honouring volunteers as part of World Maritime Day. L to R: Sharon Walls, Larry Robbins, Graeme Walls.
Mercy Ships NZ staff aboard the Nautilus after their 'sail past' honouring volunteers as part of World Maritime Day. L to R: Sharon Walls, Larry Robbins, Graeme Walls. Photo credit: Michael Bain

"The people we are helping have been treated with such rejection and shame for so long because of superficial problems. Our crews not only help restore them physically through surgeries but also begin to heal them emotionally through love, care and respect. To see the change in people's lives and the joy it brings is simply incredible", Sharon Walls, Mercy Ships NZ communications manager, said.

With Mercy Ships having provided 82,000 free essential surgeries to people in extreme poverty to date, a large focus has been on the medical volunteers.

But it isn't just the doctors and nurses that Mercy Ships are honouring this year. "Obviously the main focus is the hospital, but of course we are a ship too and that requires qualified marine experts".

The opportunity to honour the maritime volunteers was not lost on Graeme Walls, director of Mercy Ships, either.

"Every crew member on board is an integral part of providing those life transforming surgeries."

Which brings us back to the Nautilus, the perfect vessel to connect the present with the past.

Originally built in 1913 as a pleasure craft, she served in World War I as one of two launches on the Marama, a hospital ship provided to the war effort by the New Zealand government.

The Nautilus itself saw extensive service as a shore-to-ship transport for wounded soldiers and spent a lot of time taking casualties from the Battle of the Somme across the English Channel from northern France.

She was donated to the Maritime Museum by Alan Williams six years ago, with museum staff and volunteers spending five years fully restoring her to her original glory.

Sharon Walls was on board the Nautilus during what turned out to be a poignant trip on Wednesday. "Being on this little vessel here that carried wounded New Zealand soldiers in World War I is amazing. It's just awesome to be part of a massive picture of Kiwis helping in desperate situations. That help has spanned generations".

"The Kiwi spirit of rolling up your sleeves and getting stuck in to make a difference in other people's lives is wonderful," she said. "It was something birthed in the horror of World War I and it continues today."

Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Commodore Steve Mair agrees, as his organisation partners with Mercy Ships for celebrations around World Maritime Day.

He is also calling for more Kiwi sailors to use their world renowned skills and volunteer with Mercy Ships, with the hopes that more engineers and maritime experts can add to the amazing heritage New Zealand has had with hospital ships.

With support like that Mercy Ships will continue to serve those in need, like the Nautilus and her crew did 100 years ago, for many years to come.

Michael Bain is a Masters student with a passionate interest in New Zealand history.