The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) join forces in a new video in celebration of this year’s theme for World Maritime Day ‘Empowering Women in the Maritime Community‘, which is scheduled to be screened on Thursday, September 26, at the IMO headquarters in London.
The IMO Secretary-General, Kitack Lim, commented that
To ensure its own sustainability, shipping needs diversity in the workforce. Diversity is better; it’s better for teamwork, better for leadership – and better for commercial performance. This video from ICS reinforces the fact that the industry is fully embracing this idea. I am sure it will help spread the word about how important it is to support and promote women in the maritime community.
In the light of the delivery of the UN’s Sustainable Development Agenda, the Secretary-General ensured that member states will be helped in order to achieve the sustainable development goals. Taking into account that gender equality is among SDGs 5 and 8, Kitack Lim highlighted the continuous efforts and support of the role and development of women in the industry.
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Moreover, according to the Secretary-General, “gender equality has been recognized as one of the key platforms on which people can build a sustainable future“.
Kitack Lim further stated that
Women in the maritime world today are strong, powerful and constantly challenging old-fashioned perceptions. Experience tells us that diversity is better; it’s better for teamwork, better for leadership – and better for commercial performance. The maritime world is changing. And for the better … And a new generation of strong and talented women are responding. They are proving that in today’s world the maritime industries are for everyone. It’s not about your gender, it’s about what you can do.
In fact, the Women in Maritime program will continue to endorse the empowerment of women in the industry in the future through gender specific fellowships, by giving access to high-level technical training and the establishment of professional women especially in developing countries and also by creating an environment in which women can be identified and selected for career development opportunities in maritime administrations, ports and maritime training institutes.
On his side, Guy Platten, the Secretary-General of the ICS commented that the “industry needs to attract the very best talent and we must use all means to encourage a more diverse workforce.”
According to the most recent ICS, BIMCO Manpower Report, there is an expected rise in the number of women seafarers during the upcoming years. It is believed that currently, from the 16,500 women seafarers, most are in the process of training to be officers.
