The International Maritime Organization (IMO) celebrated International Women’s Day in the Maritime Sector 2024 on May 18th, with the theme “Secure Horizons: Women Charting the Future of Maritime Safety.” The event aimed to highlight and promote women’s participation in every facet of the maritime industry, from navigation to engineering and beyond.
On the eve of this celebration, IMO hosted a symposium at their London headquarters on May 17th. Prominent industry professionals discussed integrating gender perspectives into maritime safety. The symposium also showcased the Diversity@Sea project, where 11 shipping companies will implement measures to boost inclusion onboard their vessels.
A highlight of the event was the inaugural IMO Gender Equality Award presented to Despina Panayiotou Theodosiou, former president of the Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA International), for her efforts in advancing gender equality in the sector.
This celebration is crucial in a traditionally male-dominated field, where women make up only 2% of seafarers and 20% of national maritime authority staff. IMO’s goal is to commemorate and encourage sustainable employment and retention of women in the maritime industry, aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 5.
For more details on this significant celebration, visit the IMO’s official website.
