At the India Maritime Week 2025 in Mumbai, five pioneering Indian women were honored for their significant contributions to the maritime industry: Suneeti Bala, a chief engineer; Reshma Nilofer Visalakshi, the only female marine pilot in Kolkata and Haldia; Sonali Banerjee, a marine engineer; Parvathy Rajalakshmi, a naval architect; and Radhika Menon, a merchant navy captain. These trailblazers inspire a new generation of women to explore careers in maritime fields.
The Directorate General of Shipping’s data reveals a significant increase in the number of Indian women seafarers, from 1,600 in 2021 to nearly 6,000 by the end of 2024. This rise is attributed to governmental policies aimed at encouraging women’s participation in the maritime workforce, greater awareness of career prospects, and initiatives promoting diversity within global shipping lines.
There’s a notable trend toward female representation in technical roles, such as electro-technical cadets and trainee engine ratings, reflecting the industry’s growing acceptance of women. Captain Menon emphasizes the role of supportive pioneers, industry initiatives, and regulatory policies that foster a conducive working environment for women.
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways is actively promoting women’s empowerment in the industry. It plans to introduce more scholarships for female cadets, including approximately ₹1 lakh annually through the Maritime Training Trust. Institutions are also forming all-women batches to promote inclusivity.
Maersk’s ‘Equal At Sea’ initiative, launched in 2022, aims to enhance diversity among seafarers and address the historical under-representation of women. It brings together industry stakeholders to share ideas and best practices. Other companies like V Ships, Synergy, and CMA CGM are also increasing their recruitment of female seafarers.
Despite the uplift in numbers, women remain a small fraction of the global seafaring workforce, constituting only 1.2% of the 3 lakh Indian seafarers. Shyam Jaganathan, Director General of Shipping, highlights the lack of gender equity in the sector. The government’s Sagar Mein Samman (SMS) initiative aims to enhance female participation while aligning with diversity, equity, and inclusion objectives.
Strategies to boost women’s involvement include enforcing anti-harassment policies and advocating for gender-neutral regulations. Malini V Shankar, Vice Chancellor of the Indian Maritime University, notes a shift in societal perceptions, with families now more supportive of women pursuing maritime careers.
Overall, the maritime sector in India is gradually shifting towards gender inclusivity, with increasing support mechanisms and initiatives aimed at empowering women, thus opening new pathways for their engagement in this traditionally male-dominated field.
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