The New Year 2025 came all over the planet. The last to welcome it were sailors whose ships are in the Pacific Ocean within the UTC-12 time zone - the westernmost on Earth.
This time zone does not include inhabited territories and was created only for the purposes of ship navigation, explained the Australian National Maritime Safety Authority, whose specialists monitor traffic in the nearby areas of the Pacific Ocean around the clock.
Sailors usually celebrate the New Year twice: once during the ship's port and the second time at the actual location. They receive their congratulations by radio from the crews of ships sailing nearby, as well as from port dispatchers who monitor maritime traffic.
Passengers of planes flying westward also had the opportunity to celebrate the New Year several times. Many airlines prepare special treats for such flights in advance, which are served in the cabin as soon as the board crosses the border of the time zone where midnight strikes. Some carriers announce such flights in advance, attracting tourists.
The eastern islands of the state of Kiribati were the first to celebrate the New Year 2025. Having passed through Europe, Africa, the Atlantic Ocean, North and South America, the festive relay ended in the western part of the Pacific Ocean, where the old year finally disappeared into history.