Every year on 18 May, the International Day for Women in Maritime, established by the IMO, serves as an important reminder to support women working both at sea and ashore while encouraging meaningful dialogue around gender diversity across the maritime sector. The initiative aims to raise awareness, strengthen visibility, and promote greater female participation throughout the industry.
Josephine Le, MD and Founder of The Hood Platform, urges the maritime industry to shift its focus from recruitment to retention and protection. Bringing more women into the sector is not enough if they do not feel safe, respected, or supported enough to stay.
A key priority, she notes, is the implementation of mandatory, independent safeguarding and reporting systems. Too often, female seafarers see their complaints handled internally, where fears of retaliation, inaction, or career damage persist. Every seafarer should have access to a trusted, confidential, and professional support system when issues arise onboard.
Gender equality cannot be measured simply by increasing the number of women at sea. It is achieved when women can build long-term careers without having to tolerate unacceptable behaviour. The real test lies not in campaigns or public messaging, but in everyday practices onboard, within offices, and across company culture.
As the industry faces a future workforce challenge, attracting younger generations will require more than competitive pay or advanced vessels. Today’s workforce expects environments where they feel safe, valued, and respected.
Her message to industry leaders is clear: listen closely to the real experiences of women at sea, even when those stories are uncomfortable. The greatest risk to progress is not lack of awareness, but the false belief that the problem has already been solved.