Shining the spotlight on women at sea and onshore
Today on May 18th, we celebrate the IMO International Day for Women in Maritime. Inaugurated in 2022, we once again place the spotlight on women in the industry.
The day celebrates women in the industry and aims to promote the recruitment, retention and sustained employment of women in the maritime sector, raise the profile of women in maritime, strengthen IMO’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5 (gender equality) and support work to address the current gender imbalance in maritime.
The theme for 2023 is “Mobilizing networks for gender equality”. IMO has launched a video “Women in maritime can…” to raise the profile and visibility of women in maritime. Historically, seafaring as a career is male-dominated. According to the IMO, women represent only 1.2% percent of the global seafarer workforce. BW LPG joins the IMO in highlighting the importance of improving gender equality in maritime.
To play our part in supporting gender diversity, BW LPG has been providing scholarships to eligible female cadets from the Indian Maritime University. The scholarship began with nine recipients, and into its third year, the program has expanded over fivefold as it gains momentum and awareness.
BW LPG also aims to provide a supportive work environment for our female seafarers. We want staff and seafarers to feel they belong and that they are free to be themselves – bringing a bit of their own birthplace, background, and culture with them; and, above all, to feel that they are safe. As part of BW Group, we rolled out a series of initiatives and policies to promote respect and belonging for colleagues at sea. We clearly highlighted our Anti-Harrassment and Anti-Bullying Guidelines. Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (DIB) Guidelines, as well as our Halting Harassment Policy.
We thank all colleagues, men and women, at sea and onshore, for their dedication and hard work to deliver energy the world needs, safely and sustainably. However, to commemorate this year’s International Day for Women in Maritime, we shine the spotlight on our female seafarers with this video which continues the IMO’s call that “Women in maritime can ….”.
