IMO Secretary-General underscores women’s potential to transform ocean industries.

This year’s International Day for Women in Maritime, celebrated annually on 18 May, will spotlight pathways for women’s leadership, participation and impact in the global ocean economy.  

Shipping carries more than 80% of global trade in goods and is essential to everyone on the planet. However, the sector remains male-dominated - women make up less than 20% of the maritime workforce onshore, with significantly lower participation at sea.   

To discuss how closing this gender gap could unlock growth and opportunities across the industry, the International Maritime Organization is hosting a symposium in London on Friday,16 May under the theme: ‘An Ocean of Opportunities for Women’. 

The event will bring together leading ocean and maritime figures from around the world to share insights and solutions that can shape policies and actions to promote women’s participation.  

Ahead of the symposium, which will be livestreamed on IMO’s Youtube Channel,  Secretary-General Mr. Arsenio Dominguez said:  

“Our theme this year recognizes the vast potential for inclusion, innovation and equality across the many different areas of work in the maritime world, from deck to boardroom, from ocean scientist to maritime administrator.” 

He emphasized that “education, mentorship, policy and culture will bring down the barriers that have hindered progress.”

New data on women in maritime 

The findings of the 2024 IMO-WISTA Women in Maritime Survey will be announced during the event. The survey report includes key baseline data about women’s participation in the maritime and ocean fields, along with recommendations for action. 

The survey builds on the first report published in 2022, which indicated significant disparities between men and women in all levels of the maritime workforce, with great variations among individual sub-sectors. 

The report will be published here.  

Gender equality award  

The IMO Gender Equality Award 2025 will be presented to maritime entrepreneur Ms. Karin Orsel from the Netherlands during the event.  

The IMO Council endorsed Ms. Orsel as the 2025 recipient during its 133rd session held in London (18 to 22 November 2024).  The Award is bestowed on individuals who have made significant contributions to advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women in the maritime sector.    

Take part 

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez invites everyone to engage in celebrations online, tagging someone who is making a difference for gender equality.  

On social media platforms, use the hashtag #WomenInMaritimeDay, tagging @IMOHQ on X; LinkedIn; Instagram; and Facebook. 

Full details: An Ocean of Opportunities for Women Symposium

IMO Launches Train-the-Trainer Programme on Alternative Fuels for Maritime Transport

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has launched its global Train-the-Trainer programme on alternative fuels for sustainable maritime transport. The first training session, held from 14 to 18 April 2025, brought together 35 participants at the Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre (MTCC-Asia), hosted by Shanghai Maritime University.

The course, implemented by the World Maritime University (WMU), is designed to equip maritime professionals with the skills to train others on key decarbonization fuels—ammonia, methanol, and hydrogen. It is part of the broader Baseline Training Framework for Seafarers in Decarbonization project, carried out in collaboration with the Maritime Just Transition (MJT) Task Force and the IMO Secretariat.

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A Structured, Scenario-Based Training Approach

Initially piloted at WMU in December 2024, the course has since been refined based on post-training evaluation surveys. Updates include additional hands-on sessions, scenario-based learning drawn from real-world case studies, and demonstrations of equipment and safety procedures.

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A Broad, International Participation

IMO-sponsored participants came from:

• Bangladesh

• India

• Indonesia

• Malaysia

• Pakistan

• The Philippines

• Thailand

• Vietnam

Self-funded participants represented:

• China

• Hong Kong (China)

• Japan

• Republic of Korea

• Singapore

Additional participants included MTCC Asia staff, NGO representatives, and industry experts nominated by members of the Maritime Just Transition Task Force, including:

• UN Global Compact (UNGC)

• International Chamber of Shipping (ICS)

• International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF)

• Lloyd’s Register Foundation

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This initiative is a major step toward building global capacity to support the transition to low- and zero-emission fuels, ensuring that maritime professionals are well-prepared to drive decarbonization within the sector.

IMO Welcomes Amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention: Seafarers Officially Recognised as Key Workers

Seafarers are set to benefit from improved living and working conditions following the adoption of key amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006. These changes reaffirm the international community's ongoing commitment to ensuring fair treatment, enhancing safety and welfare at sea, and acknowledging the essential role seafarers play in global trade.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO), which participated in the Special Tripartite Committee (STC) meeting on the MLC at the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva (7–11 April 2025), has welcomed the developments.

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Key Amendments Adopted:

• Protection against violence and harassment on board;

• Designation and recognition of seafarers as key workers;

• Stronger rights to shore leave, contributing to seafarers’ health and well-being;

• Facilitation of repatriation procedures;

• Requirement for States to cooperate and consider the IMO/ILO Guidelines on the fair treatment of seafarers in the event of a maritime accident, as well as the newly adopted guidelines on the fair treatment of seafarers detained for alleged crimes;

• Recommendation for vessels to carry up-to-date medical information and guidance available to the person responsible for onboard medical care.

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The amendments will now be submitted for approval at the upcoming International Labour Conference, scheduled from 2 to 13 June 2025. If adopted, they are expected to enter into force by December 2027.

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Additional Resolutions

Alongside the amendments, the Special Tripartite Committee adopted several key resolutions. Notably relevant to the IMO are:

• The recommendation to extend the mandate of the joint ILO/IMO Tripartite Working Group (JTWG);

• The final review and update of the ILO/IMO joint abandonment database;

• Continued cooperation on matters related to seafarers’ welfare.

This session reaffirmed the strength of tripartite dialogue and multilateral cooperation in delivering meaningful and effective solutions to global challenges in the maritime sector.

📄 Full text of the adopted amendments: www.ilo.org/resource/other/text-amendments-adopted-11-april-2025

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IMPA Launches the 2025 Safety Campaign / Survey

From 16 to 30 May 2025, the IMPA Safety Campaign / Survey 2025 will officially open—an essential initiative to improve pilot safety. All pilots are encouraged to report compliances and non-compliances observed during service. Submissions are anonymous and no registration is required.

As of today, the International Maritime Pilot’s Association (IMPA) represents over 8,200 pilots across 53 countries.

As in previous years, participation requires the use of the dedicated mobile app, available on major platforms. Access is granted via a password provided in the members’ private area on the Fedepiloti website.

• iOS download: App Store link

• Android: [To be confirmed]

More details available on:
🔹 IMPA Official Website
🔹 Fedepiloti Website

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About IMPA
The International Maritime Pilot’s Association was founded in June 1970 by pilot associations from five continents, whose representatives first gathered in Kiel, Germany. The organization was officially launched in Amsterdam in May 1971.

Today, IMPA is a non-profit international body whose primary goal is to promote professionally sound and safe pilotage practices worldwide.

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New Parliamentary Intergroup on the Blue Economy Launched in Rome

A new Parliamentary Intergroup on the Blue Economy has been officially launched in Rome, an initiative spearheaded by Senator Simona Petrucci (Fratelli d’Italia) and supported by 41 Members of Parliament. The aim is to give national prominence to the sea as a strategic resource—long underestimated but essential for the country’s economic development.

“The Parliamentary Intergroup on the Blue Economy was created to provide concrete support through projects, initiatives, data, and sectoral studies, ultimately leading to actionable proposals and targeted, effective legislation,” stated Senator Simona Petrucci, President of the Intergroup, during the press conference held at the Senate.

“We are talking about a sector that stretches along 8,000 kilometers of coastline, generating a total value of €178 billion—about 10% of the national GDP—with 227,000 companies and over one million workers.”

“We’ve already begun drafting a list of key topics we want to focus on. I want to thank the 41 MPs from across the political spectrum and from every corner of Italy who have joined the Intergroup. This cross-party and nationwide approach will be one of our greatest strengths.”

The Intergroup will also be supported by a technical advisory committee, which will help ensure each topic is addressed with professionalism and accuracy.

Key focus areas will include:

• Sustainable fishing

• Port infrastructure

• Employment and workforce training

• Innovation

• Streamlining bureaucracy

“We’re ready to make a meaningful contribution across all these areas,” Petrucci concluded.

Source: Adnkronos.com