The CSA and WiMAC to work on gender equality project

Addressing misinformation about gender equality and women’s rights in the maritime sector, is as important as ensuring efficient systems, enabling environments and productive capacities, and is an ongoing focus of the Women in Maritime Association Caribbean (WiMAC).

WiMAC was established in 2015 under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to amplify discussion on the progress and development in the global maritime sector for women.

Currently, women represent two percent of the world's 1.2 million seafarers, with 94 percent of female seafarers working in the cruise industry. Women are more evenly represented in the shore-based sector. In 2015, the Port Authority of Trinidad & Tobago estimated that up to 60% of its staff were women and in February 2019, 70% of the work force of Grenada Port Authority were women.

Survey

However, a 2016 survey by the Maritime HR Association found that most women in maritime occupy administrative (74%) and junior positions (55%) mainly in corporate support human resources and finance roles. Only 37% of available professional-level positions were occupied by women: 17% at manager-level, 12% at director level and 9% at the executive level. 9% of women were found to hold positions in ship management (UNCTAD 2017). Closer to home, only 14% of maritime administrations in the Caribbean are led by women.

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