New data highlight a lack of gender diversity in sea traffic

[By: WISTA International]

Wista Women in Seemaritime Survey points out that the continuous gender -specific inequality in the maritime sector and renewed demands for measures is triggered.

The second women in Maritime Survey, which was published together by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Women's International Shipping & Trading Association (Wista), offers new insights into gender diversity within the industry.

The report contains data on the share and distribution of women who work in the maritime sector from IMO member states and in the private sector.

The results are based on an analysis of a larger number of women who work in the public and private sector in maritime traffic: 176,820 women in 2024 compared to 151,979 in 2021. In particular, there was a significant increase in the number of participating Member States. However, the latest data record shows that women make up almost 19% of the total examined workforce compared to a share of 26% in the catchment group in 2021.

Women make up 19% of the national maritime authorities in Member States from the sample group, and only 16% of the workforce of the private sector surveyed (without seafarers). At sea, women still remain strongly underrepresented and make up only 1% of the total number of seafarers who are employed by the organizations surveyed.

Arsenio Dominguez, General Secretary of IMO, said: “The second IMO WISTA women in Maritime survey provides valuable insights into the progress of the sector, since the basic data set in survey 2021 is a greater participation in the survey from Member States and Industry, a welcome reference to the growing engagement for gender matter is.

“However, there are still a few options. The female representation is still disproportionately low and women represent a small fraction of the lake administration, which emphasizes the urgent need for persistent commitment and measures. We have to double our efforts to promote a really diverse and integrative sea industry.”

The report offers insights into the leadership, participation, guidelines and education in public and private sectors and shows significant deviations between the activities. A greater female representation was found in aspiring sectors such as environmental, social and governance (ESG) and decarbonization services, while others, such as bunker and legal services, recorded a decline.

Elpi Petraki, President of Wista International, said: “Women in maritime surveys should provide real data about the state of gender diversity in maritime traffic and offer guidelines for the areas that require more attention. The intention is to inspire changes and act as a collective call for action.

“To pull, keep and promote women on land and sea. However, the new data also show how the possibilities in the entire industry are still limited for women, since barriers such as gender stereotypes, security concerns in the workplace, a lack of family -friendly guidelines and ongoing gender wage gap.”

The report contains detailed recommendations on how Member States and industry can help improve gender diversity in maritime traffic, improve recruitment and storage initiatives, improve programs to develop mentoring and leadership, to strengthen the implementation of the guidelines and to guarantee secure and supportive work environments.

As part of the commitment of the IMO and Wista International to improve gender diversity within the maritime sector, the survey and its results are contributing to the implementation of the goal of the sustainable development of the fifth united nation in order to achieve the development of gender quality and to enable all women and girls to promote the development of the development of development in Maritime participation.