为了参加美国纽约帆船协会所主办的横渡大西洋 “瑞典国王杯”的锦标赛，一九五五年三月八日，有一艘命名为“自由中国”号的传统华舶三桅帆船，于基隆下水，历经多次波折，当年八月才抵达美国旧金山，这件事当时在台湾引起很大反响。因此航海界人士，就考虑用华人最伟大的航海事迹——“郑和下西洋”，来表彰华人的航海事业，并鼓励台湾的海洋走向，他们就特别请求当局确定郑和下西洋的首航日期七月十一日为航海节，这便是航海节订定的背景。

 

从1955年开始，台湾每年都要举办航海节。他们的航海节主要通过各种活动弘扬海洋文化。

比如2007台湾基隆航海节就以三大主题性活动“寻找陆地-船舰特展”、“基隆启航-体验之旅”、“拥抱蓝海-欢乐嘉年华”为启动点，举办多场活动，在这系列活动中基隆市政府除了进行舰艇操演之外，还开展了船舰特展及基隆船模特展，又开放了和星舰供民众参观。

基隆市政府更用航海文化海、陆体验游的方式让民众可以亲眼目睹基隆的航海发展及历史。除了船舰特展及体验活动之外，在基隆市文化广场举办的“拥抱蓝海”欢乐嘉年华活动中，免费让民众尽情品尝海洋美食，还邀请了呼浪海洋舞团及台北知名SHOWBAND等接力演出以及啤酒和泡泡冰大胃王竞赛。                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

 

2008第54届航海节高雄区庆祝大会由航海节高雄区筹备委员会主任委员高雄港务局局长谢明辉主持，航港业界嘉宾共同参与，欢庆航海节。

会中表扬模范港航从业人员并致赠信号台、灯塔服务人员纪念品以资鼓励，开展了航海节系列活动，还邀请高雄港合唱团演唱及由该局员工自组的高雄港乐团表演节目。