A few years ago, I gave a speech in an IMO International Maritime Institute (IMLI) discussion on women in the maritime industry. The IMLI Board of Studies had given me a scholarship to read my masters in 2006 (completion in 2007) so this seemed a good opportunity to give something back.
Today, I once again attended a similar-themed breakfast, She Leads the Seas. This conference focussed on the opportunities for women in this industry which is so traditionally heavily led by men. The event was hosted by MaritimeMT, in Malta, and was part of the MARMED project.
The MARMED project is a part of ERASMUS+. It is aimed at briding the gap between the existing needs and the current skillset of Maritime Clusters Managers. The object is to look at upskilling of members of the industry. It was also aimed at outlining an innovative professional profile for an increased competitiveness of Maritime Clusters in the Mediterranean area and, overall, boosting innovation and sustainable growth in the Blue Economy sector.
This in-person seminar covered an outline of the project, a discussion on the role of women in the maritime industry and a good overview of the opportunities available. It is widely still the case that women are still under-represented in the maritime industry and there are many actions that the industry can take to change this balance. The audience included the IMLI students, various professionals and lecturers from the industry and officials from the Flag, Transport Malta.
The meeting also touched upon Women in Transport – EU Platform for change. With only 22% of women, the transport sector is not gender balanced. The objective of this Platform, therefore, launched on 27 November 2017, is to strengthen women’s employment and equal opportunities for women and men in the transport sector through the actions brought about by the Platform members. It will also serve as a forum to discuss and exchange good practices.
The IMO Resolution A.1170(32) of 09 December 2021, established the 18th May as the IMO International Day for Women in Maritime.
