On this International Day for Women in Maritime, I am especially encouraged by the close alignment between Wallem’s efforts to advance diversity and inclusion and the IMO’s 2026 theme: “From Policy to Practice: Advancing Gender Equality for Maritime Excellence”.
This year’s IMO’s theme reflects an important shift for our industry, moving from aspiration and ensuring that commitments to equality are translated into meaningful, everyday action across shipping.
We firmly support this approach. Today, women make up 45% of our onshore workforce, and their contributions have played a pivotal role in helping us make better-informed decisions, improve operational efficiency, deliver stronger outcomes for our clients, and enhance overall business performance.
At sea, however, female representation across the industry remains far lower, at around 2%. While Wallem’s own female seafarer representation has increased almost five times over the last decade, these figures reflect how much more progress is still needed if we are to turn equality from principle into lived experience and encourage more women to pursue careers at sea.
Wallem remains committed to driving positive change. We have introduced dedicated platforms for women to share concerns and provide feedback on the challenges they encounter. We actively seek insights into the experiences of female seafarers and provide a confidential women-only reporting channel for harassment-related issues.
We also recently joined the Global Maritime Forum, whose All Aboard Alliance supports welfare at sea. Its latest initiative, ‘Unspoken’, aims to develop a global framework to help companies better address sexual misconduct onboard vessels. Research shows that sexual misconduct at sea remains widespread and significantly underreported, with 80% of surveyed seafarers having experienced or witnessed asexual offence within the last five years. Through gathering and understanding personal experiences, the initiative aims to help companies assess incidents appropriately and respond more effectively.
At the same time, our ‘Women of Wallem’ (WoW) initiative continues to foster stronger connections between seafarers’ families and their loved ones at sea. In 2026, WoW organised a series of participatory wellbeing activities, including artistic workshops, environmental initiatives, exercise sessions, and community outreach programmes designed to strengthen support networks and wellbeing.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez spoke this year about moving from words to action to integrate women at every level of the maritime industry and build a future that is inclusive, resilient, and sustainable.
Through our sustained efforts, Wallem aims not only to encourage more women to join the maritime workforce but also to support the families and communities of all seafarers. We remain committed to providing a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment for women in what has traditionally been a male-dominated industry, helping pave the way for greater gender equality at sea and a stronger, more effective maritime sector for all.
John Rowley
CEO, Wallem Group
Meet some of the amazing women shaping the future of the maritime industry. Click the videos below to be inspired by their stories.
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