We are proud to celebrate International Day for Women in Maritime to shine a spotlight on women’s contributions to the maritime industry and advocate for their participation across the sector.
2024: Women Shaping the Future of Maritime Safety
The theme for 2024, 'Safe Horizons: Women Shaping the Future of Maritime Safety', recognises the important role of women in enhancing safety measures in the maritime sector, whether as seafarers, maritime professionals, or leaders.
The maritime sector presents diverse and often hazardous work environments. Personal safety is an ongoing priority across all facets of the industry. As well as the physical and safety risks we associate with high-risk roles, we need to address safety barriers hindering women’s effective participation in maritime.
Despite the gender gap in maritime, our industry showcases some highly forward-thinking and innovative female leaders driving safety innovation.
International Day for Women in Maritime serves as a platform to celebrate these achievements and to inspire greater female involvement in shaping a safer maritime environment for all. By fostering safe and inclusive workplaces, we can 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 International Day for Women in Maritime started
International Day for Women in Maritime was first pitched to the IMO in 2019 by the Pacific Women in Maritime Association (PacWIMA), receiving the unanimous support of member states.
Recognising the importance of inclusivity and gender equality in the maritime sector, the IMO officially launched the first International Day for Women in Maritime on 18 May 2022. Since then, this day is now marked annually on the IMO calendar and is celebrated globally across industry, gaining momentum with each passing year.
The IMO also champions the Gender Equality Strategy, sponsorship schemes at the World Maritime University and the International Maritime Law Institute, as well as mentorship programmes for students.
Fostering the participation of women in maritime supports Goal 5 of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls to participate fully in the maritime sector).
Achieving Goal 5 is vital for the maritime industry to thrive in the face of existing challenges such as an ageing workforce, greater ethical accountability and climate change amongst others. To succeed, the maritime community must create opportunities for a more diverse workforce supporting innovation and addressing sustainability concerns.
Women play a vital role in the growth of the maritime industry and the removal of barriers for women’s employment can significantly narrow the gender equality gap. This, in return, will bring considerable benefits to the sector as a whole.