Removal of barriers impeding women’s development in maritime sector is very crucial

Removal of barriers impeding women’s development in maritime sector is very crucial
31 August 2022 https://risingsunoverport.co.za/121330/removal-of-barriers-impeding-wome...

According to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), women account for just 20 percent of the workforce in the maritime authorities of member states, and 29 percent across subsectors in the industry.

Structural and cultural barriers that impede the development of women in the maritime sector should be addressed quickly if we wish to unlock the potential of the industry as a viable avenue of job creation and economic growth. So says Damian Bellairs, branch manager at Marine.

Government has unveiled a programme called Operation Phakisa, which is a growth blueprint for the marine economy that is envisaged to unlock the economic contribution of the sector and grow its contribution to the economy to R177 billion, creating one million jobs by 2033.

Currently, the maritime landscape is still perceived as a male dominant industry and women’s participation remains slight. According to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), women account for just 20 percent of the workforce in the maritime authorities of member states, and 29 percent across subsectors in the industry.

Bellairs explained, “A paradigm shift is required to achieve the goals of Operation Phakisa and to unlock the economic potential of the maritime sector. This willingness to change includes entrusting capable women with more leadership positions and reviewing the internal processes that have slowed down the acceleration of women’s development in the sector. Organisations really need to commit to the project if they want to be successful. There may be some challenges along the way, but ensuring your organisation is open to change is an important first step.”

He says that workplace and gender diversity in leadership are critical to ensure the long-term sustainability of the sector.

“Concerted efforts should be made in identifying and removing the physical and social barriers that prevent women from participating in maritime professions. Increasing gender tolerance requires a wider range of innovative insights from people in many facets of the maritime community,” he stated.

He pointed out that Servest Marine has made significant strides in increasing the number of women in leadership positions- 57 percent of the organisation’s leadership team comprises women.

Bellairs confirmed that Servest Marine will partner with other women in the industry to grow these numbers at various levels at Servest and other maritime organisations.

The side-lining of women in the maritime sector deprives the industry of the opportunity to tap into an abundance of talent and innovation, he noted. Evidence suggests that utilising women’s potential as leaders, economic actors and consumers will result in higher levels of industrialisation and sustained growth.

“If more women are allowed to participate in the same roles as men in the industry, there is a greater opportunity to catapult the sector into a growth trajectory, which in turn will ensure that it contributes more significantly to the country’s GDP and becomes a catalyst for job creation,” he continued.

He says that the industry should highlight the career opportunities available in the maritime sector in order to improve its employer value proposition.

These range from marine and ship engineers, deck officers, maritime environmentalists, seafarers, and tug masters.

“As we celebrate Women’s Month this August, we need to ensure that gender stereotypes are broken in the maritime industry, as this is key to encourage young women to consider this as a viable career choice. The industry is traditionally male dominated, and if we are to break that trend, we must promote those women already succeeding in their maritime roles. Comprehensive changes need to take place, not only within the maritime sector but also within societies, to create conditions conducive to women’s inclusion and meaningful participation,” he concluded.