The global shipping and logistics sector marked Women in Maritime Day 2026 on May 18 with a critical shift in focus, adopting the theme ‘From Policy to Practice: Advancing Gender Equality for Maritime Excellence’. Addressing the industry in London, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez challenged maritime stakeholders to move beyond rhetoric and implement practical measures for lasting diversity. This urgency aligns with the pressing need to solve widespread seafarer shortages and modernize global supply chain operations.
Despite increased awareness, the maritime gender gap remains stark. Recent data from the IMO-WISTA Women in Maritime Survey shows that while women now account for nearly 19% of the workforce across surveyed maritime organizations ashore, sea-based roles lag significantly. According to the BIMCO and ICS Seafarer Workforce Report, women represent merely 1.2% of the global active seafarer workforce. Furthermore, maritime education data suggests that only about 5% of current seafaring students are female, highlighting a critical pipeline issue for shipping fleets.
To bridge this divide, the 2026 IMO events prominently featured the launch of the ‘Handbook on Gender Mainstreaming’ by Professor Momoko Kitada, recipient of the 2026 IMO Gender Equality Award. This handbook provides commercial shipowners, ports, and logistics executives with concrete strategies to integrate gender perspectives into daily operations and policies. For shipping experts, advancing gender equity is no longer just a social goal; it is a fundamental requirement to foster innovation, ensure safe working conditions, and maintain a competitive global workforce.
References
IMO: International Day for Women in Maritime 2026
Marine Industry News: Mainstreaming gender equality in shipping
ODYSSEY Reloaded: International Day for Women in Maritime 2026
IMO: Women in Maritime – IMO’s gender programme
Maritime Activity Reports: The Updated Maritime Labour Convention
