On the UN’s International Women’s Day, International Maritime Organization (IMO) secretary-general Arsenio Dominguez is calling on the maritime sector to take greater steps to support gender equality and women’s empowerment
A 2021 study by IMO and the Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) showed that less than 30% of the maritime workforce and only 2% of seafarers are women.
The report, launched on the first IMO International Day for Women in Maritime, on 18 May 2022, contains information about the proportion and distribution of women working in the maritime sector from IMO member states and the maritime industry. The data demonstrates that women account for only 29% of the overall workforce in the general industry and 20% of the workforce of national maritime authorities in member states.
Industry data shows that women seafarers make up just 2% of the crewing workforce and are predominately found in the cruise sector, while in shipowning companies, they made up 34% of the workforce.
“We need to do better. We must intensify our efforts if these figures are to improve. I look to each and every one of you, to member states, to industry and to all colleagues to join in the efforts to accelerate progress in this critical endeavour for the industry,” secretary-general Dominguez said in a speech to mark the UN’s International Women’s Day, whose theme is ’Invest in women: accelerate progress’.
Mr Dominguez outlined actions the IMO Secretariat is taking to address the issue, including through the work of internal Gender and Diversity Group, mainstreaming gender in the delivery of projects and programmes and striving towards achieving gender parity among staff.
He has appointed a gender-balanced senior management team and initiated a policy of refraining to participate in panels or events unless gender representation is respected. He encouraged the maritime community to follow this example.
Educational opportunities for women in maritime were an area of focus for IMO, and women taking part in IMO-linked educational and professional training programmes were featured at the dedicated IMO event, along with a panel discussion by industry professionals.
WISTA UK, too, announced it had launched a joint initiative with the Maritime Educational Foundation (MEF) to offer sponsorships to five women cadets selected by WISTA UK and funded by MEF.
WISTA UK president and senior lawyer, FD&D, Gard, Monica Kohli expressed her enthusiasm about the collaboration with the Maritime Educational Foundation saying, "This strategic partnership marks a significant milestone in fostering maritime excellence and promoting diversity within our industry. By joining forces with the Maritime Educational Foundation, WISTA UK is committed to creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for women at sea. Together, we aim to empower individuals, especially women, to pursue rewarding careers at sea, advancing both education and career development. This collaboration exemplifies the strength that comes from collective action in addressing challenges and seizing opportunities within the maritime industry."
The collaboration between the Maritime Educational Foundation and WISTA UK underscores the importance of collective action in addressing the challenges and opportunities facing the maritime industry. Through their partnership, both organisations are committed to driving positive change and shaping a more inclusive future for the maritime sector.
Cadet training management company Ship Safe Training Group has been selected to manage the training of the five female cadets on behalf of the MEF and WISTA UK.
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