Shipping can tap into a wider seafaring talent pool by including more women, BIMCO panel hears
With women making up only 1.2% of seafarers, shipping has a major opportunity to broaden its talent pool, BIMCO’s Ship Manager Advisory Panel heard at its latest meeting. Meeting on 25 September 2026, the panel discussed the recruitment of women seafarers alongside another pressing workforce issue: ensuring fair treatment for crew facing criminalisation or abandonment ...
BIMCO's Ship Manager Advisory Panel, meeting on 25 September 2026, explored how the shipping industry could tap into a larger pool of talent by recruiting more women seafarers. Present at the meeting was Fleet Management, which highlighted the need to encourage more women to consider careers at sea. The panel members agreed that fostering diversity in the maritime workforce is crucial, while also emphasizing that safety, respect, and proper onboard standards are essential for attracting and retaining seafarers.
Furthermore, the discussion covered BIMCO's ongoing efforts to address the criminalisation and fair treatment of seafarers as part of their broader policy work on workforce sustainability. The organization remains committed to advocating for fair treatment of seafarers and raising awareness among industry stakeholders and regulatory bodies.
A key component of this initiative is the "Our Seafarers Deserve Fair Seas" campaign, which sheds light on the challenges faced by seafarers and underscores the necessity of improved protection.
The panel expressed its intent to continue these discussions with ship managers and other industry stakeholders. The next meeting of the Ship Manager Advisory Panel is anticipated to take place in early 2027.
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