Women at sea: how we can close the gender-gap in Merchant Navy?

The Hindu

28-05-2025

The gender diversity in the maritime sector remains disproportionately low. The second Women in Maritime survey shows that at sea, women remain vastly underrepresented, accounting for just 1% of the total number of seafarers employed by surveyed organisations. While there are challenges such as workplace safety concerns, gender pay gap, and more, there are consistent efforts to make the space more inclusive.
The report jointly published by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Women's International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) reports that women account for 19% of the workforce of national maritime authorities in Member States, and only 16% of the surveyed private sector workforce (excluding seafarers).
To delve deep into the topic, The Hindu hosted a live webinar titled 'Careers for women in the Merchant Navy' on Saturday, May 24 at 5:00 p.m. The webinar featured an expert panel including Captain Radhika Menon, India's first female Merchant Navy captain; Harjeet Joshi, Former Chairperson and Managing Director, Shipping Corporation of India (SCI); Amri Saxena, Maritime Leadership Consultant, Maersk Training; and Swetha Rotkar, Senior Executive, CSR, Synergy Marine Group.
Also Read: Merchant Navy careers: High-paying jobs, training paths, and life at sea explained
The panelists emphasized that there are numerous pathways into maritime careers, ranging from engineering roles to navigation positions. They also highlight that while challenges exist, success stories continue to emerge as more women break barriers within these traditionally male spaces.
Entry pathways
Ms. Rotkar outlined the four main departments in the Merchant Navy: deck department, engine department, ETO, and GP rating. To join the deck department, one needs a Diploma in Nautical Science, a one-year course, or a B.Sc in Nautical Science, which is a three-year course. To get into the engine department, one needs to finish a B.Tech in Marine Engineering, a four-year course.
Mindset required
Ms. Amri emphasized the importance of mindset when entering the maritime field. 'I think the first and foremost thing that we need to have in our minds is that you need to have a learning mindset, because you are entering a new environment. That is a given.'
She acknowledged the unique challenges for women at sea. 'Especially for the women who are joining the fleet, the industry is still in its nascent stage to embrace you completely. Equality is still not there, so there will be more challenges. We need to accept that and work around it rather than be scared of it. It's not a big bad world out there. There are challenges, but there are also people who have sustained it, who have made it happen'.
Ms. Joshi spoke about how one needs to prepare for the isolating experience it can prove. 'Life at sea is slightly different from doing an office job on shore. What you mainly face is long hours of isolation because you are out at sea and cannot come back onto land unless your vessel touches another port. You are restricted to a small group on board, so you need to have a very resilient mindset. Contracts typically last six to eight months, which means you're sailing continuously for that duration.'
Towards gender inclusivity
Ms. Joshi also noted the progress made in the field in terms of gender inclusion. She outlined key policy initiatives like Sagar Mein Samman to boost female participation in the industry. 'Back in the day, there were no policies. But today, the government is actively working to ensure equality and equity in the maritime industry.
Capt. Menon shared her pioneering journey starting as India's first female merchant navy captain amid an environment lacking policies supporting women. 'Choose to be a seafarer with your eyes open. In today's world, much is known about what life on board entails, the work conditions, the challenges, and the responsibilities. Once you step on board, you'll find there is a lot of support available, both from companies and from the government', she said.
She highlighted that support systems are actively in place. 'Every company has helplines for mental health and emotional support. There are also organizations like the International Women Seafarers Foundation, which help women tackle any issue or doubt they may have, no matter how small', she said.
While hurdles remain in creating an equitable environment within the Merchant Navy, progress is evident through collective efforts aimed at empowering aspiring female seafarers towards fulfilling careers on the high seas.