Maersk has hailed a remarkable milestone in gender diversity in India’s maritime sector, with the number of Indian female seafarers in its workforce increasing more than sevenfold in the last three years. The success is linked to the company’s ‘Equal At Sea’ project, which was introduced in 2022 and aims to promote gender equality among seafarers while also addressing the industry’s historical under-representation of women. The number of Indian women sailors has increased from 41 in 2021 to more than 350 in 2024.
In 2024, women accounted for 45% of Maersk’s Nautical and Engineering cadets in India, a significant milestone towards the company’s aim of equal gender representation among its cadet intake by 2027. The initiative’s impact goes beyond India, helping Maersk achieve worldwide gender diversity goals. The proportion of women in Maersk’s worldwide seafarer pool has increased from 2.3% in 2022 to 5.5% in 2024, with the number of female seafarers in the fleet more than tripling from 295 to over 650.
As Maersk celebrates these accomplishments, the business remains committed to creating an inclusive workplace that promotes women to succeed in the traditionally male-dominated maritime profession. The ‘Equal At Sea’ program has effectively established a platform for industry stakeholders to share ideas, address obstacles, and adopt best practices to improve gender diversity.
With its continued commitment to breaking down barriers, Maersk is setting a new norm for gender equality in the maritime sector and leading by example in India’s efforts to enhance industry diversity.
Marex Media
