About 4000 Myanmar women seafarers work on cruise ships

About 4000 Myanmar women seafarers work on cruise ships
Global New Light of Myanmar February 23, 2026 Around 4000 Myanmar women seafarers have worked on cruise ships, according to the seafaring community.

At present, women have been allowed to work on cruise ships and there are around 4000 Myanmar women seafarers working onboard.

“Years ago, since passport application had been granted for nearly all people, women also went seafaring. At the time, women worked as hotel staff on cruises by holding either job passport or visit passport. But the rule was changed later and restricted them to have seaman passport for going seafaring. We’ve known that more than 1000 women have held seamen passports, so far. But more than 3000 women have already worked onboard with other types of passport, years ago,” said Myanmar Seafarers Federation chair Captain Soe Min Aung.

Lately, Myanmar women are interested in working as seafarer so he suggested that they should do preparations so that they can meet requirements for seafaring jobs.

He said some European ship owners have reportedly held discussions on employing women for officer positions on cargo ships.

“The global seafaring community has also encouraged women seafaring workforce to grow. For now, we have known that no Myanmar women have been on cargo ships. But some European ship owners have launched discussions on promoting the women employment to senior positions for cargo ships,” he said.

MT/ZS

Around 4000 Myanmar women seafarers have worked on cruise ships, according to the seafaring community.

At present, women have been allowed to work on cruise ships and there are around 4000 Myanmar women seafarers working onboard.

“Years ago, since passport application had been granted for nearly all people, women also went seafaring. At the time, women worked as hotel staff on cruises by holding either job passport or visit passport. But the rule was changed later and restricted them to have seaman passport for going seafaring. We’ve known that more than 1000 women have held seamen passports, so far. But more than 3000 women have already worked onboard with other types of passport, years ago,” said Myanmar Seafarers Federation chair Captain Soe Min Aung.

Lately, Myanmar women are interested in working as seafarer so he suggested that they should do preparations so that they can meet requirements for seafaring jobs.

He said some European ship owners have reportedly held discussions on employing women for officer positions on cargo ships.

“The global seafaring community has also encouraged women seafaring workforce to grow. For now, we have known that no Myanmar women have been on cargo ships. But some European ship owners have launched discussions on promoting the women employment to senior positions for cargo ships,” he said.

MT/ZS