Oldendorff and BHP collaborate to attract new talent to the maritime industry

With women making up just one per cent of seafarers globally, Oldendorff Carriers (Oldendorff) and BHP have forged a new initiative to support efforts to increase diversity in the maritime industry.

Under the initiative, Oldendorff and BHP will collaborate across several areas to help broaden access to opportunities and make careers in the maritime sector more accessible and attractive.

Oldendorff representatives visited BHP’s industry-leading FutureFit Academy in Perth this month, marking the first in-person knowledge sharing initiative. 

The FutureFit Academy is one of BHP’s key initiatives that has helped its business attract and develop talent in mining through investing in training pathways, qualifications and career opportunities. This included dedicated training academies with externally recognised qualifications.

BHP will also explore Oldendorff’s cadetship program to give both organisations deeper insight into what makes these programs successful.

Oldendorff currently employs 150 female seafarers in its fleet, serving in 13 different ranks, spread over all departments and management levels. The carrier aim to increase the pool of female seafarers by the end of 2026 to 200 with a natural growth of female representation in officers rank to 6%.

Scott Bergeron, Managing Director Fleet, Oldendorff Carriers, said: “As one of the world’s leading dry bulk carriers, we see it as our responsibility to help shape a more inclusive and accessible maritime industry for all. Having achieved near gender equilibrium in our offices ashore, we have increased our focus on positions afloat. By investing in our onboard leaders, we will further improve our efforts to increase the access to opportunities for women in the highest levels across the company.

“Our close partnership with BHP is an important enabler in taking our diversity efforts to the next level. Collaborating with a global chartering partner such as BHP allows us to build on our existing foundation and learn from one another. By exchanging experience and insights from initiatives like the FutureFit Academy and Oldendorff’s Global Cadetship Program, we can scale what works, challenge established approaches, and accelerate the development of inclusive pathways into seafaring and shore based maritime roles across the industry.”

Emma Roberts, Vice President Maritime & Supply Chain Excellence, BHP, said: “This initiative is a great opportunity for BHP, as one of the world’s largest dry bulk charterers, to work alongside Oldendorff to make a positive impact on gender diversity in the maritime sector. Training pathways are critical in developing access and career opportunities for every industry, but they are also an important building block for creating more diverse workforces. The maritime industry connects ports and products across every continent — and the people in the industry underpin its success.”