Celebrating the International Day for Women in Maritime 2025
Highlighting the role of women in shaping a more inclusive and sustainable maritime future.
© IMO – International Maritime Organization
Gender Equality in Maritime: A Green Award Perspective
On 18 May 2025, the world will mark the International Day for Women in Maritime, an initiative led by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to promote the empowerment of women across the sector.
At Green Award, we believe gender equality is essential for building a safer and more sustainable shipping industry. Diverse perspectives lead to innovation and progress — not only within our organization but throughout the global maritime community.
Our support for gender equality also aligns with our commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls is one of the thirteen SDGs that Green Award actively supports.
This international day serves as a reminder that creating an inclusive maritime sector is not just a goal — it’s a necessity. While more women are breaking barriers and stepping into leadership roles, ongoing efforts are needed to ensure true equality of opportunity.
To that end, Green Award is committed to fostering a professional environment where everyone, regardless of gender, can thrive and contribute fully. As part of our certification programme, both office audits and ship surveys include a checklist on social dimensions — ensuring safety, non-discrimination, and harassment prevention are part of onboard and onshore culture. This also covers mental well-being and gender-specific needs, helping ensure every crew member is treated with dignity and fairness.
We continue to support initiatives that promote visibility, leadership, and equal participation for women at all levels of the industry.
IMO Celebrations and Sector-Wide Initiatives
To mark this year’s International Day for Women in Maritime, the IMO will host a special event on 16 May 2025. Highlights include:
- The Gender Equality Award Ceremony, where Ms. Karin Orsel, nominated by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, will receive the IMO Gender Equality Award 2025.
- The launch of the IMO-WISTA Women in Maritime Survey 2024 report. This updated survey provides valuable data on women’s participation in the maritime and ocean sectors.
For full details and to follow the IMO’s activities, visit the IMO’s event page.
