On 26 September, the European Maritime Safety Authority’s (EMSA) Administrative Board nominated Ms. Maja Markovčić Kostelac as the next EMSA Executive Director. This follows a recent trend in the maritime industry which strives to enhance its gender diversity.
Born in Zagreb in 1966, Mr. sc. Maja Markovčić Kostelac is the State Secretary for Marititme Affairs in the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Croatia.
In 2008, she obtained her LL.M. in maritime law and law of the sea at the Faculty of Law, University of Split, with the topic Implementation of the International Convention on Ballast Water 2004 in closed and semi-enclosed seas, with special attention to the Adriatic.
The shipping industry has been traditionally dominated by males in senior leadership positions, as well as in a workplace onboard, but global shipping associations and companies worldwide have recently begun to mark significant developments to change this norm. Meanwhile, gender equality is one of the 17 UN Sustainable Goals to be achieved until 2030.
Did you know?
- In this respect, IMO selected the “Empowering Women in the Maritime Community” as the World Maritime Day theme for 2019, in an effort to raise awareness of the importance of gender equality, in line with UNSDGs.
- In July, IMO Council approved the Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) International’s application for consultative status, to promote diversity and enhance women’s empowerment.
- Major shipping companies and coastal operators across the globe have appointed women in high positions onboard: A recent example is Southampton-based ferry operator Red Funnel which appointed Alice Duncan as its first female captain,
- NYK promoted a deck officer named Tomoko Konishi to the rank of captain, becaming the first woman in the company’s 132-year history to do so.
- In May, Greek ferry operator Hellenic Seaways appointed Theano Silelogloy as the first female First Engineer onboard a merchant ship in Greece.
- In March, Nicole Langosch was appointed as captain in ‘AIDAsol’, claiming the title of the first woman in the position of captain in the AIDA fleet. Currently, AIDA Cruises employs 14 female nautical officers aboard its fleet.
