In 2022, AP Moller-Maersk, a global logistics integrator, launched the ‘Equal At Sea‘ initiative to promote gender equality within the maritime industry. The effort for the last three years helped it inch closer to its 2027 target of equal gender representation. Maersk’s Indian women seafarers surged from 41 to over 350 in just three years. In 2024, the company onboarded 45% of women candidates as the Nautical and Engineering cadets.
Karan Kochhar, Managing Director, of Fleet Management & Technology at Maersk says, “Our continuous efforts and immense support from the industry has started realising the future of creating an equitable environment at sea for women to thrive in. We have successfully inspired more women in India to choose seafaring as a career. Getting to 45% has been a great team effort within Maersk and across the industry.”
“Now is the time to keep the momentum up and strive to ensure that the women recruited are also retained in the fleet,” adds Karan
Studies indicate that a diverse workforce leads to better business outcomes, enhancing work culture, employee engagement, and problem-solving capabilities.
For Karan, the focus remains on identifying further steps to maximise the benefits of diversity.
Challenges that restrict women
Karan sees the lack of awareness about the career opportunities that the maritime sector offers, and the absence of role models as primary challenges that restrict women from entering the sector.
“The maritime sector has traditionally been male-dominated and has created a cultural mindset that it is not fit for women. During our outreach program at schools, we realised the lack of awareness is a major concern that makes it tough for women to be part of the maritime sector.” Karan sees the thin presence of women faculty and students at the maritime education institutions as another hurdle making it tough for women to join this field.
It’s because it’s historically been run by men, so there’s no sensitisation needed for it to be more conducive for women.
Hence, Karan suggests working at the grassroots level to improve women’s representation in the traditionally male-dominated maritime sector. “We need to target students who are in their class XII when deciding on future careers to ensure a sustainable increase of women in this field.” Karan also advocates for using social media tools to woo young women.
Collaboration with academic institution
In 2022, A.P. Moller–Maersk announced India’s first Women Seafarers’ Cadet Programme in collaboration with the Academy of Maritime Education and Training (AMET), Chennai, to promote seafaring careers amongst young women and improve Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) in the long run.
However, Karan insists on collective efforts from the industry to provide proper career counselling to young women and their parents at the right age, facilitate the right academics, create job opportunities, ensure a safe and healthy work environment at sea, and ensure fair employment in the long-term to the women to address the gender imbalance. Currently, women make up just 0.5% of the total Indian seafarers.