According to a recent report by the Diversity Study Group, the shipping industry is making progress on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). In fact, many companies, organizations and alliances are taking their first steps in improving inclusion in their workplace, providing more platforms for all people to have equal career opportunities.
According to the report, this progress is most evident in junior and mid-level ranks, helping to build a more diverse talent pool of future leaders, but diverse representation remains far more limited at C-suite level. However, let’s take a look at some of the most prominent examples the promote DEI in shipping:
#1 All Aboard Alliance: Industry leaders came together in Zurich to launch the All Aboard Alliance with the aim to provide a platform for collaborative action to make the maritime industry more diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
The All Aboard Alliance is designed around five principles which member companies are encouraged to implement in internal policies, procedures, and leadership practices.
#2 Maritime Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Innovation Lab 2022: Thome Group, together with Hafnia, Anglo American, RightShip, Rio Tinto, and Wilhelmsen have joined forces to launch the innovation lab. This is an open competition for interested participants to submit their ideas on addressing DEI in the maritime industry. Shortlisted teams will participate in the innovation lab to hone their pitches in preparation for a ‘Dragon’s Den’ session with industry leaders. The winning team and their idea will be brought to life with collaboration and funding from the partner organizations involved.
#3 Maritime Speakers Bureau Platform: IMO and WISTA International collaborated to end the tradition of all-male speaking panels. The Maritime Speakers Bureau website is seeking positive commitment by asking people to sign one or more of its pledges: for speakers; organizers; and sponsors.
By signing, they are committing to highlighting where there is a lack of diversity at events and doing what they can to improve things to ensure that maritime events have diversity and inclusion.
#4 MOL endorses Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs): WEPs are action principles for actively working to promote the advancement of women. MOL Group positions diversity and inclusion, including the promotion of women’s participation, as a “new driving force for growth” and places it at the core of its human resource strategy.
#5 Svitzer launches training program for women seafarers: The 1st of March 2022 was an important milestone for Svitzer AMEA, as a new training program in Egypt saw the light of day and welcomed 12 female cadets. The training program is a vital element in the efforts to improve female representation in the AMEA region. Up until recently, there were no female seafarers in the region but after a dedicated effort to change that, 21 female seafarers are now employed in the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa region, and more will soon follow.
#6 First female captain for Wilhelmsen: Wilhelmsen Ship Management appointed their first female captain, Captain Lee Eun Ran, who stated that: “I hope my achievement can inspire more female seafarers to consider seafaring.”
