International Day for Women in Maritime
We are proud to celebrate International Day for Women in Maritime on 18 May. This day shines a spotlight on women’s contributions to the maritime industry and advocates for their participation across the sector.
2024: Women Shaping the Future of Maritime Safety
The theme this year is 'Safe Horizons: Women Shaping the Future of Maritime Safety'. It recognises the important role women play in improving safety as seafarers, maritime professionals, and leaders.
The maritime sector presents diverse and often hazardous work environments. Personal safety is an ongoing priority across all facets of the industry. We need to address physical and safety risks in high-risk roles. But we also need to address safety barriers because they hinder women’s participation.
Despite the gender gap, our industry has highly forward-thinking and innovative female leaders. These women are driving safety innovation.
International Day for Women in Maritime serves as a platform to celebrate these achievements. It also inspires greater female involvement in shaping a safer maritime environment for all.
Together, let's foster safe and inclusive workplaces to pave the way for increased diversity and excellence in our industry.
16 May 2024: Join us at the International Day for Women in Maritime event. You can attend online or in person, at East Fremantle Yacht Club.
Note: International Day for Women in Maritime is on 18 May but we are holding our event on 16 May.
Interviews: What this day means
AMSA stakeholders and maritime students talk about what IDWiM means to them the importance of gender equality.
Mariana Noceti, Principal Programme Assistant, Women in Maritime Programme, Sub-Division for Programme Management and Coordination, Technical Cooperation Division, International Maritime Organization (IMO) shares with AMSA the importance of gender equality.
Maritime Training Adviser - Women In Maritime Focal Point at The Pacific Community (SPC), Ore Toua spoke to AMSA about what International Day for Women in Maritime means to her and diversity in the maritime sector.
Dinah Inape-Omenefa is a PacWIMA chairperson and spoke to AMSA recently about how the IMO International Day of Women in Maritime highlights the contribution of women to the whole maritime economy and trade.
Mereseni Rakuita, The Pacific Community’s (SPC) Principal Strategic Lead–Pacific Women spoke with AMSA at the PacWIMA conference about what International Women in Maritime Day means to her. Merseni provides strategic oversight on SPC’s gender program and is an advocate for the empowerment of women and girls.
Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) president Monika Lemajic spoke to AMSA recently at the PacWIMA Conference about what IDWiM means to her and gender equality.
Hear from Maritime students, Tenisha Jones, Danielle Flower, Samantha Hoestra, Cameron Skeggs and Lucy Barr.
How the day started
International Day for Women in Maritime was first pitched to the IMO in 2019 by the Pacific Women in Maritime Association (PacWIMA). It received the unanimous support of member states.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) officially launched the first International Day for Women in Maritime on 18 May 2022. This day is now marked annually on the IMO calendar and is celebrated globally across industry, gaining momentum each year.