Maersk’s Indian women seafarers
surge from 41 to over 350 in just three years as the company
takes a holistic approach towards gender diversity
Karan Kochhar, Head of
Marine People, Asia, Maersk
Mumbai : A.P. Moller - Maersk
(Maersk), a global integrator of logistics, today announced a significant
milestone under its 'Equal At Sea' initiative in India. With 45% of the Nautical
and Engineering cadets onboarded in 2024 being women, the company has inched
closer to its 2027 target of equal gender representation amongst its cadet
intake.
Accelerating progress towards
gender equality in the Indian maritime sector
Launched in 2022, the
'Equal At Sea' initiative enters its third year with remarkable success in
India. The programme's primary objective is to achieve gender equality among Maersk
seafarers, address the historical underrepresentation of women amongst
seafarers and create an ecosystem for the entire Indian maritime sector to
improve gender diversity. The programme brings different stakeholders across
the industry on a common platform, which serves as a hub for exchanging ideas,
understanding industry challenges, learning from each other, and implementing
best practices.
His Excellency Freddy Svane, Ambassador of Denmark to India, said, "The seas know no gender. By championing diversity in
maritime careers, Maersk is not only steering towards equality but also
charting a course for innovation and growth in the shipping industry. Denmark
and India, as maritime nations, must lead this tide of change.” He added, “This
industry-wide effort to create more opportunities for women in maritime careers
will undoubtedly strengthen our global shipping community and drive progress
and sustainability in the years to come."
Karan Kochhar, Head of
Marine People, Asia, Maersk, said, "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. Through our
initiatives, we have successfully inspired more women in India to choose
seafaring as a career.” He added, “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."
The 'Equal At Sea' conference, held today in Mumbai, brought together
maritime industry leaders to discuss gender diversity and inclusion. His
Excellency Freddy Svane, Danish Ambassador to India, joined the event. The
conference comprised three key segments: ‘Sustainable Equality: Going Beyond the
ON-Boarding,’ which explored workplace culture and harassment through an
interactive discussion; ‘Sea-side Chat - Not All Ceilings Are Made of Glass,’
celebrating pioneering women in male-dominated fields; and an in-depth
discussion on the topic ‘All Women on Board: Myth or Reality?’ Additional
highlights included a session by the Women in Maritime Association (WIMA) and the
announcement of the Equal At Sea challenge winner. The event concluded with a
progress report on Maersk's diversity initiatives, underscoring the company's
commitment to fostering an inclusive maritime industry.
Key Achievements and
Milestones in India
- Indian women seafarers: With recent cadet
inductions, the number of Indian women seafarers has surpassed the 350
mark, from a mere 41 in 2021, contributing significantly to improving the
diversity within Maersk's seafarers population in India.
- Progress in the Nautical and Engineering
streams: The overall percentage of women cadets in
this year’s intake has gone up to 45%, and the Nautical division has
already crossed 50%.
- Women Rating Programme: Launched in 2023 as
a sub-programme of 'Equal At Sea', the initiative began with 22 women
trainees in India. Building on its success, Maersk added two subsequent additional
batches and now has a total of 70 women ratings undergoing training.
Global Impact
The success of the 'Equal
At Sea' initiative in India has also contributed significantly to Maersk's
global progress in improving gender diversity. The number of women seafarers in
the Maersk fleet has more than doubled, from 295 in 2021 to over 650 and
counting in 2024. The percentage of women in Maersk's global seafarer pool has
risen from 2.3% in 2022 to 5.5% in 2024.
Looking Ahead
As Maersk celebrates its
successful journey of improving gender diversity goals amongst seafarers in
India, the company remains committed to fostering an inclusive environment and
continuing to break barriers in the maritime industry. Maersk aims to carry
this momentum forward from cadet onboarding to recruitment and create an
environment that allows women to thrive in this traditionally male-dominated
sector.
About Equal At Sea
Maersk initiated conversations about the underrepresentation
of women at sea and organised an event called "Equal at Sea: Turning the
tide with women onboard" in India in 2022. The purpose of this event was
to empower women in the maritime industry through mutual support and mentorship
and increase the representation of women in various corporate roles within the
sector. The event brought together policymakers, industry experts, and
courageous women who have defied stereotypes to pursue careers at sea. Know
more at www.maersk.com/equal-at-sea.
About
A.P. Moller – Maersk
A.P. Moller - Maersk is an integrated logistics
company working to connect and simplify its customers’ supply chains. As a
global leader in shipping services, the company operates in more than 130
countries and employs over 100,000 people worldwide. Maersk is aiming to reach
net zero emissions by 2040 across the entire business with new technologies,
new vessels, and green fuels. For more information: www.maersk.com