What challenges prevent women from pursuing a career in the maritime industry?

This question inspired us to work with the Global Maritime Forum to conduct a survey and corresponding analysis in the TURTLE seafarers database.

Women comprise less than 2% of the global seafaring workforce, yet their participation is essential to address the growing talent shortage in the maritime sector.

Read the report which reveals the key barriers preventing women from pursuing a seafaring career, based on the insights of over 3,300 seafarers.

Tackling the key challenges together is crucial to creating a more inclusive and attractive maritime industry, especially for women and people from the Global South.

This work aligns with our commitment under the All Aboard Alliance's Diversity@Sea initiative to bring about real change in the industry.

“At TURTLE, we're proud to have co-designed this survey with the Global Maritime Forum to spotlight the intersectional challenges female seafarers face, particularly gender and nationality discrimination, which persist in the maritime industry. With women making up less than 2% of the global seafaring workforce amid a severe shortage, breaking down these barriers is essential. Distributed through TURTLE's extensive database, the survey aims to reach a wide audience to raise awareness and drive progress toward a more inclusive, resilient maritime," said Isabelle.

''I am deeply troubled by the discrimination seafarers from the Global South, notably from Africa, continue to face as they confront barriers rooted in both gender and nationality. These systemic inequities reveal a harsh reality: the maritime industry is still far from equitable, with too many talented men and women left behind simply because of their gender or where they come from," said Susanne Justesen, the Global Maritime Forum's director of human sustainability.