Women Thriving in the Maritime Industry

The maritime industry, historically a male-dominated field, is undergoing a significant and necessary transformation. While women in patriarchal societies like the Philippines have often faced discrimination, studies from the American Psychological Association (APA) show the positive impact women have in the workplace better. When they are empowered to lead, success inevitably follows along.

The BIMCO/ICS 2021 Seafarer Workforce Report highlights this positive shift, revealing that women now make up a total of 1.2% of the global seafarer workforce. This may seem like a small number, but it represents a remarkable increase from just 0.7% in 2015, bringing the total number of women seafarers to an estimated 24,059.

International organizations are actively championing this change. The International Maritime Organization (IMO), a UN agency responsible for ensuring the safety and security of shipping as well as preventing marine and atmospheric pollution by ships, is actively supporting women’s representation in the maritime sector. The IMO has developed a framework of maritime development, which includes women in maritime programs under the slogan “Training-Visibility-Recognition,” and a strategic approach towards enhancing the contribution of women as key maritime stakeholders.

Data from the IMO-WISTA 2021 survey provides a deeper look into women’s growing presence across the sector:

• 29% of women work in the private maritime sector
• 20% of women are employed by Member States
• 14% hold specialist, technical, and operational roles within Maritime Administrations

This push for gender balance is gaining traction. Sanjam Gupta, a member of the Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA), is advocating for a top-down approach, urging industry leaders to actively recruit women seafarers into this sector.