There is a lot of talk about declining interest in careers at sea and a projected shortfall of trained seafarers. The shipping industry must work to become more inclusive to have access to a wider and more diverse workforce. It is therefore important to expand both the nationalities and the proportion of women onboard.
Published on 13 May 2025
In our last issue of BSM Highlights, we introduced the Diversity@Sea pilot project initiated by the Global Maritime Forum, which aims to enhance gender and cultural diversity at sea. During the project phase, the 21-strong crew of container vessel “Charlotte Schulte” consisted of seafarers from seven nations, including four female seafarers.
We asked the four women to share their experiences and motivations as part of the pilot project, with some interesting insights.
Junior Third Officer Anastasiia Panteleeva
Chief Officer Junie Cantoneros
Apprentice Deck Officer Anastasiia Zagorodnikova
Junior 4th Engineer Mercy Brew
On 26 March, during Singapore Maritime Week, the Global Maritime Forum presented its Sustainable Crewing Guidelines, based on the findings of the Diversity@Sea pilot project. It’s a set of nine actionable guidelines aimed at improving seafarer well-being, promoting inclusivity in the maritime industry and protecting supply chains from workforce crisis, offering a clear roadmap for positive change.
Tested in the Diversity@Sea pilot programme with twelve companies and 400+ seafarers, the guidelines outline nine key actions—from fostering respect and ensuring fair career opportunities to providing inclusive PPE and reliable connectivity, for example—designed to make life at sea safe and inclusive and attract the next generation of talent.
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