Manila: The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) said Wednesday there is an urgent need to dismantle gender barriers across all aspects of the maritime industry.
According to Philippines News Agency, PCW Chairperson Ermelita Valdeavilla noted that women have been proving their competence, courage, and leadership in the maritime world as engineers, logisticians, harbor pilots, shipbuilders, and naval officers, to name a few. However, they still encounter significant barriers, such as unconscious bias, lack of appropriate mentorship, limited training access, and outdated stereotypes.
Valdeavilla emphasized that the opportunities available for women in the maritime industry are meaningless if gender barriers remain ingrained in maritime education, training, recruitment, placement, promotion, allocation of benefits and opportunities, and in the language and behavior of people within the industry.
A recent survey conducted by the International Maritime Organization and the Women's International Shipping and Trading Association showed that the shipping industry remains 'overwhelmingly male-dominated.' Women only make up 19 percent of the total maritime workforce surveyed, with just 1 percent of them working at sea.
Meanwhile, a study by the National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) in 2022 revealed that only 44 percent, or 28 out of 64 surveyed shipping companies, have established formal policies on gender equality. The NMP said this indicates a significant gap in the institutional support necessary to foster a more inclusive and equitable maritime industry.
The study also showed that women remain underrepresented in shipboard roles, with their participation primarily seen within the steward or catering departments at 402, or 42 percent of 953 Filipino women seafarers. Moreover, only 100, or 11 percent, of 940 female employees within crewing and shipping companies hold senior management positions.
Valdeavilla urged authorities and advocates in maritime to make 'the seas truly inclusive' by providing women, both inside and outside the industry, respect, promotion, and support.
