Navigating Change: Insights on Women's Advancements and Ongoing Challenges in Maritime Industry

This year’s international Women in Maritime Day brought too light some eye-opening findings from a global survey conducted by the IMO and WISTA international. It turns out that women make up about 19% of the maritime workforce globally, but this number varies considerably across different sectors. While women shine in roles like public relations, marketing, and recruitment, thay represent a mere 1% of active seafarers worldwide. This stark contrast underscores both the potential for growth and the persistent hurdles faced by women in this field.

IMO Secretary-General Antonio Dominguez emphasized the need for ongoing commitment to diversity within maritime industries: “Women still represent a small portion of our seagoing workforce, which calls for renewed efforts to create an inclusive environment where talent is recognized nonetheless of gender,” he stated. He also highlighted that thier Women in Maritime program has been running strong for over 40 years and aims to integrate gender considerations into all projects moving forward.

The survey revealed that only 16% of shoreside and seafaring positions are held by women in private companies—a significant drop from 29% reported back in 2021. This decline may stem from changes in company participation rather than an actual decrease in women’s employment opportunities. Since many organizations involved this time were new participants, drawing direct comparisons is tricky.

Despite these challenges,it’s clear that while women occupy various shoreside roles—from entry-level jobs to executive positions—they still encounter significant barriers when it comes to working at sea. Out of 179 vessel operators surveyed, just over half (85) actively employ female crew members on their ships; one company even bluntly stated they do not hire women for offshore support vessels.

A recent study by the Global Maritime Forum found that nearly one-third of female maritime professionals cited gender discrimination as a major obstacle in their careers. In contrast, only about 13% of respondents from the WISTA/IMO survey reported taking steps like bias training to combat discrimination; most lacked any formal gender equality policies altogether.

“The data reveals ongoing issues such as workplace safety concerns, family-unfriendly policies, and persistent pay gaps,” noted Elpi Petraki, president of WISTA International. “We have a collective obligation to make our industry more welcoming—not just for future generations but also for those currently navigating these waters.” She expressed hope that insights from next year’s Women in Maritime Survey will help drive necessary cultural shifts toward greater diversity.

Petraki joined Dominguez at a symposium last Saturday at IMO headquarters where they discussed these findings alongside panel discussions addressing specific challenges faced by individuals within the industry (see below).