OSM Thome’s Julia Anastasiou speaks out on underrepresentation of women in seafaring workforce

On the occasion of International Day for Women in Maritime today (18 May), Julia Anastasiou, Chief Crew Management Officer at OSM Thome, comments as follows on whether enough in being done to promote and support women in Maritime:

“In short, no, not enough is being done. While the maritime industry has made progress in promoting women and increasing visibility, the scale of underrepresentation shows that the challenge goes much deeper than recruitment or retention alone. Women still make up less than 2% of the global seafaring workforce, which points to widespread and ingrained barriers that continue to prevent many women from seeing seafaring as a viable career in the first place.

For meaningful progress to be made, there needs to be a much broader cultural shift in how women are recognised and accepted within society as an able and capable seafaring workforce. In many communities, a career at sea remains inconceivable for women because of long-standing gender expectations, socioeconomic pressures, stigma, or a lack of visible and supported pathways into the industry. Young girls should be able to explore education and career opportunities in seafaring as they would in any other sector, without facing discouragement from their communities, families or social circles.

This is why change cannot sit with employers alone. Governments, flag states, regulators, educators and industry leaders all have a role to play in changing the narrative, improving access to maritime education, providing practical and financial support, and creating the conditions that allow women to consider seafaring as a career of choice. In developing nations, this may mean stronger access to training and opportunity. In developed nations, it may also mean better social and domestic support for families at home, so that women working at sea are not forced to choose between their careers and basic family responsibilities.

Once women are able to enter the industry, the focus must also be on ensuring they can build sustainable, fulfilling careers within it. Life at sea remains demanding, and many onboard environments have historically been shaped around a predominantly male workforce. To truly support women, the industry must improve working conditions, strengthen onboard culture, provide appropriate infrastructure, support work-life balance, and create clear routes for progression.
At OSM Thome, we have taken steps to attract, support and retain women in the industry. Our Women’s Desk offers tailored career guidance, while our mentorship programmes connect experienced leaders with emerging talent to support growth at every stage. Mentorship and clear pathways to leadership are critical because when women can see opportunities to grow, and are supported along the way, they are far more likely to stay and succeed.

Ultimately, progress will not come from visibility alone. It requires a coordinated effort to change perceptions before women enter the industry, and to create the right culture, policies and support systems once they are there. Only then can maritime become a sector where women are not just encouraged to join, but are able to thrive over the long term.”