While progress is gradually being made, women remain significantly underrepresented in many areas of shipping, particularly in technical, leadership, and seagoing roles, reinforcing the need for continued commitment, inclusion, and meaningful industry action.
Under the theme “From Policy to Practice: Advancing Gender Equality for Maritime Excellence”, the day highlights actions to translate international ambitions and commitments into tangible actions that will make a difference in the lives of women in the sector, from seafarers to shore side professionals.
On 18 May 2026, the International Maritime Organization hosts a special event at IMO Headquarters in London, exploring why gender mainstreaming matters and the challenges that remain across the maritime sector.
The in-person event, with full interpretation, will be livestreamed on IMO’s YouTube channel, to further amplify women’s voices.
The event will be opened by Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez and features a variety of maritime experts and advocates sharing their perspectives on best practices in turning commitment into action.
A highlight of the event will be the launch of the Handbook on Gender Mainstreaming, by Professor Momoko Kitada of the World Maritime University.
The Handbook will serve as practical resource designed to support maritime administrations, shipping companies, ports, and maritime training institutions in integrating gender perspectives into their policies, procedures, and operations.
According to the latest IMO–WISTA survey, women remain significantly underrepresented across the global maritime industry, accounting for less than 19% of the total workforce sampled and only 1% of active seafarers. While the survey recorded an increase in the total number of women working in maritime compared to 2021, female participation in both public and private sector roles remains disproportionately low. The findings also reveal persistent barriers to inclusion, including gender stereotyping, workplace safety concerns, limited family-friendly policies, and the gender pay gap.
At the same time, emerging sectors such as ESG, decarbonization, and maritime services are showing stronger female representation, signaling gradual progress toward a more diverse and inclusive industry. In an exclusive interview, Vivi Kolliopoulou, President, Wista Hellas, noted that while greater female representation ashore is increasingly visible across the industry, there is still considerable room for improvement. Referring to Greece in particular, she emphasized that although many women hold STEM degrees, female representation in managerial technical roles remains disproportionately low compared to equally qualified male peers.
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