International Day for Women in Maritime

The Mauritius Ports Authority (MPA) joins the international community in celebrating the second

‘International Day for Women in Maritime’ decreed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). In 2021, the IMO’s Assembly adopted a resolution to celebrate women in the industry on 18 May and to promote the recruitment, retention, and sustained employment of women in the maritime sector. Mauritius is a member of the IMO since 1978.

“Today is an opportunity to appreciate the role and contribution of more than 75 women professionals at the MPA who provide the highest levels of service to support the transformation of Port Louis harbour into a regional maritime and logistics hub’” said Ashit Kumar Gungah, Chairman of the MPA. “The MPA is committed to promote the government’s efforts to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5 which is about gender equality.”

The theme this year is ‘Networks for Gender Equality’ that seeks to highlight the importance of collaboration and networking in achieving gender equality in the maritime sector. The theme of the inaugural celebration held last year was ‘Training-Visibility-Recognition: Supporting a barrier-free working environment’.

“Women are working in all facets of the maritime sector across the globe, on shore and at sea to support the transition to a decarbonized, digitalized and more sustainable future for the industry. There is still a significant gender imbalance in maritime. Times are changing – but we need to accelerate that change. The benefits for the whole sector of improved diversity in the workforce is evident” said IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim in his message this year.

The IMO is marking this year’s event with a two-day conference at its Headquarters in London, United Kingdom. In commemoration, it has also released a video - Women in maritime can.