by the OneCare Group Editorial Team
As we mark World Health Day 2025 with the theme ‘Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures’, it’s the perfect time to shine a light on the unique challenges faced by female seafarers. The maritime industry has long been dominated by men, but more women are stepping into roles at sea and onshore. Despite this progress, they continue to encounter systemic obstacles that affect their health, career growth, and overall well-being.
With women making up just 2% of the global seafaring workforce, gender imbalance in the maritime sector remains a stark reality. The challenges go beyond mere numbers; they extend into workplace culture, career progression, and access to the kinds of support systems that male colleagues often take for granted.
The Realities Faced by Women at Sea
For many women in the maritime industry, discrimination is still a daily battle. Skepticism about their capabilities can make it harder to rise through the ranks, and leadership opportunities remain limited. Harassment is another pressing issue. Many female seafarers have spoken out about feeling unsafe in predominantly male environments, where incidents of harassment too often go unchecked.
Life on board is also logistically difficult. Many vessels lack dedicated accommodations, sanitation facilities, and healthcare provisions for women, making the job even tougher. And then there’s the challenge of balancing work with family life. Long stints at sea make it incredibly hard for women, especially mothers, to maintain close relationships with their children and loved ones.
The mental toll of this isolation is also significant. Many female seafarers experience loneliness, anxiety, and depression due to prolonged time away from home and the absence of a strong support network. Yet, mental health resources remain scarce in the industry, and stigma still prevents many from seeking the help they need.
For mothers working at sea, these struggles are even more pronounced. Long contracts make parenting from afar nearly impossible, and many companies lack clear policies around maternity leave, childcare support, or flexible career paths. The result? Many talented women are forced to choose between the job they love and the family they long to be with.
Bridging the Gap: What Needs to Change?
While many companies in the maritime industry have introduced gender-inclusive policies and anti-harassment measures, there remains a significant gap between policy and practice. True inclusivity goes beyond written commitments, it requires concrete actions to ensure female seafarers feel supported, valued, and safe in their workplaces.
To create a genuinely equitable environment, the maritime industry must take actions:
The maritime industry cannot afford to ignore the voices and contributions of female seafarers. A diverse and inclusive workforce is not just the right thing to strive for; it’s essential for the industry’s long-term success.
This World Health Day let’s commit to real change. Let’s break down the barriers that hold women back and work towards a future where every female seafarer can thrive, not just in her career, but in every aspect of her life.
References
Kitada, M. (2021). Women Seafarers: An Analysis of Barriers to Their Employment. In: Gekara, V.O., Sampson, H. (eds) The World of the Seafarer. WMU Studies in Maritime Affairs, vol 9. Springer, Cham.
Abraham, S. (2024) Challenges And Experiences In Maritime Sector: A Comprehensive Literature Survey With Emphasis On Women Seafarers. SSRN.
Global Maritime Forum. (2024). Four key challenges facing women seafarers.
Maritime Labour Convention (2006).
Tseng, P. H., & Pilcher, N. (2024). Women seafarers in Taiwan: policies, benefits, challenges, and bias in the data. Maritime Policy & Management, 1–17.
