- Female Seafarer Numbers Fall to Just 1% Worldwide.
- Women Gain Ground in ESG and Maritime Tech Roles.
- Nautilus Flags Urgent Need for Safer, Flexible Workplaces.
The latest IMO/WISTA Women in Maritime Survey for 2024 highlights a concerning decline in the number of women participating in the maritime industry. Currently, women represent only 19% of the global maritime workforce, a drop from 26% in 2021. The situation is even more troubling at sea, where just 1% of the active global seafaring workforce is female. In the UK, the percentage of female seafarers has fallen from 7% to 4% since 2021, reports Nautilus International.
Bright Spots in Green and Tech Sectors
Despite the downturn in traditional roles like legal services and bunkering, there are some positive developments in areas such as ESG policy-making, decarbonization, and maritime technology. This survey included input from 94 IMO member states and 608 private sector organisations across 37 different sub-sectors. The report concluded: “There is a clear need for sustained efforts to improve gender diversity in maritime.”
Addressing Systemic Barriers
Rachel Lynch, Nautilus women’s lead, emphasised the ongoing challenges women face at sea: “We’re always on the lookout for innovative ways to minimise our carbon footprint at industrial scale… Partnering with Paebbl on these maritime infrastructures allows us to explore a more sustainable approach without compromising on the scale, reliability and performance that our clients expect.”
“We can help you deal with workplace issues and bargain where there are collective bargaining agreements – and we provide forums for members to raise career barrier issues that can be taken to our governing Council and campaigned on globally and nationally.” She highlighted Nautilus’ higher-than-average female membership across its UK, Dutch, and Swiss branches, offering a ready-made network of support.
Union-Led Reforms in Action
Nautilus is actively turning conference motions into real improvements for seafarers:
- Protective Clothing: Thanks to the 2022 MLC amendments, there’s now a requirement for appropriately sized personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Anti-Harassment Measures: Nautilus played a key role in pushing for new MLC amendments that provide protections against bullying and harassment.
- Work-Life Balance: At the 2025 TUC Women’s Conference, Nautilus advocated for maternity rights and flexible work arrangements, and the motion was passed unanimously.
- Zero-Tolerance Advocacy: The Union is advocating for a sector-wide zero-tolerance stance on harassment and discrimination.
A Member-Led Push for Change
Nautilus’s General Meeting (GM) process empowers members to influence strategy and policy every four years. The motions that are adopted are monitored through interim and final reports, ensuring that senior leadership is held accountable for making progress.
“Collective action is central to achieving gender equality in maritime and joining a professional maritime union like Nautilus is the most effective vessel for driving industry change.” Nautilus also represents its members globally at key institutions like the IMO, ILO, and TUC, ensuring that diversity and inclusion remain central to the future of maritime work.
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Source: Nautilus International
