At the 89th Thessaloniki International Fair, Greece took center stage by unveiling a groundbreaking study on international best practices for enhancing women’s participation in maritime careers. Spearheaded by the maritime employees’ pension fund (NAT), the research signals a pivotal move towards increasing female representation in an industry historically dominated by men.

Emerging Leadership And Strategic Initiatives

The study, referenced by Newmoney and led by Professor Gabriel Amitsis of the University of West Attica, builds on NAT’s well-established Annual Report on Maritime Employment. Notably, women currently represent 7.8 percent of Greece’s registered maritime employment—a figure that starkly contrasts with Europe’s 1.2 percent in 2021 and 2.4 percent in 2022. The report details 25 strategic measures ranging from awareness campaigns and empowerment initiatives to policies that combat gender discrimination, providing a robust framework for integrating more women into the maritime sector.

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A Comparative Analysis Of Global And Regional Trends

While global benchmarks such as the IMO-WISTA Women in Maritime Survey 2024 highlight that women comprise nearly 19 percent of the overall maritime workforce, their presence as active seafarers remains below 1 percent. This persistent gap underscores the challenges that even well-represented sectors, such as maritime administration and education, face when transitioning to active sea roles. Similar trends can be observed in Cyprus, where government initiatives and public policies, including the National Strategy for Gender Equality and the Cyprus Shipping Gender Equality Award, are paving the way for enhanced female participation in shipping.

Government Endorsement And Industry Leadership

Prominent government figures have reinforced the importance of these initiatives. Labour Minister Niki Kerameus lauded Greece as a pioneer in the field, emphasizing that the nation’s female maritime presence is more than three times the international average. Deputy Minister Anna Efthymiou echoed these sentiments, calling for an adaptive social security system that not only provides benefits but also actively supports the unique needs of female seafarers.

Innovation, Sustainability, And The Future Of Shipping

Georgia Maniati, Director and President of NAT’s Board of Directors, stated that international best practices are key to unlocking new pathways for equality, innovation, and sustainability. “The shipping of the future cannot be imagined without the female seafarer,” she said, underscoring NAT’s commitment to global initiatives that promote equal participation. As regional momentum continues to build, Greece and Cyprus are setting an industry precedent, illustrating that elevating female participation is not just a measure of social equity, but also a competitive necessity in today’s dynamic global market.