A.P. Moller – Maersk has marked a key milestone in its ambitious ‘Equal At Sea’ programme toward attaining near-parity in the maritime industry on gender counts. In India, by 2024, women constitute 45% of Nautical and Engineering cadets onboarded. Maersk signified its intent to close the gender gap by having the sector have equal representation by 2027.
Attainment of Gender Parity in Indian Maritime Sector
Since 2022, Maersk has fought the ill of historical under-representation of women in the maritime sector with added special attention to India. Traditionally a bastion of male dominance, the maritime world had presented various barriers to entry for women for long times; however, Maersk’s recent initiative has been on diversity and inclusion and has resulted in dramatic strides into female representation.
It has been impressive the recent rise in India. In a short period of merely three years, the Indian women seafarers in Maersk fleet rose from 41 in 2021 to above 350 in 2024. This shoots way up with the company’s commitment towards equal opportunities for women in maritime careers, Nautical and Engineering streams being of special interest.
“The seas know no gender. By embracing diversity in careers at sea, Maersk is not only charting its course to equality but also sailing with innovation and growth in shipping,” His Excellency Freddy Svane, Ambassador of Denmark to India said at a speech during the ‘Equal At Sea’ conference held in Mumbai recently. Svane emphasized the far-reaching implications of gender diversity for the maritime industry as a whole highlighting that a more inclusive workforce boosts creativity and operational excellence.
Indian Women in Charge
This combined effort by Maersk with the maritime industry of India can, creditably, be attributed to their success. Now Indian women make up 45% of the total cadet intake for 2024, and the Nautical division managed to easily top the 50% mark. This is not an isolated performance; it instead shows an ongoing industry-wide support, but also focused recruitment by Maersk in India, ensuring that the real voices of women have much more credibility in an industry, largely considered a playfield for men.
Another major introduction includes the Maersk Women Rating Programme that was introduced in 2023. The program began with an intake of 22 women trainees and then increased to 70 women today. It is specialized training for women rating positions who cannot be officers but may provide a sustainable buildup for more women in maritime careers. Karan Kochhar, Head of Marine People, Asia at Maersk, noted that growth is just the tip of the iceberg.
“Getting to 45% has been a great team effort within Maersk and across the industry. Now is the time to keep the momentum up and ensure that the women recruited are also retained in the fleet,” Kochhar said. According to him, retaining women, ensuring equal opportunities for career advancement, and a positive working environment will be significant factors in attaining the goal by 2027.
Maersk’s Global Success in Diversity by Gender
Maersk’s success in India is part of a larger global effort towards increasing diversity at all aspects by gender. During the period between 2021 and 2024, the women of Maersk’s global fleet increased by more than double from 295 to over 650. This comprises the upward scale at which the company has been expanding its diversity programs around the world. The women in the global seafarer pool of Maersk increased to 5.5% in 2024, doubling from 2.3% in 2022, a milestone globally.
This global growth is not fortuitous. Maersk’s ‘Equal At Sea’ initiative has set a template for scaling across key markets in Europe and Americas. The company continues adding to the momentum by means of programs designed to push forward an inclusive workplace and stimulating career advancement opportunities for women throughout the maritime industry.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
Although Maersk’s successes are great challenges persist. In fact, gender diversity in the maritime industry is still far behind in what was achieved in other industries. Women still continue to face unconscious bias, lack of mentorship opportunities, and the physically strenuous nature of their maritime roles. However, Maersk is not trying to address these issues.
Concrete steps the company is taking are programs such as the Women Rating Program and collaboration with influential players of the industry for growth in the long run. Maersk also takes efforts at developing better working environments and mentorship opportunities in women’s leadership roles and respective positions for an effective inclusive workplace that supports women’s career development.
Far Ahead to 2027
Towards its goal of parity by 2027, Maersk can be very sure that these efforts will stand the test of time and truly lay the foundations for impactful change within the maritime industry, but also create a greater impact around the world as regards to the diversity and inclusion conversation in the global workforce.
“Equal at Sea is about more than numbers,” Kochhar said. “It’s about breaking down barriers to get women an opportunity to flourish in the maritime sector.” And it certainly sounds like the company-and its partners-is putting in the work to keep those promises. With the company and its industry partners deepening their commitment, Maersk is sailing toward a gender-balanced fleet.
Such a huge aim towards 2027 is highly ambitious, yet the success that Maersk has thus far experienced proves the readiness of the company to lead the maritime industry into a more diverse and inclusive future.
Conclusion
Maersk efforts towards ‘Equal At Sea’ have placed the company at the top as regards global leadership in promoting gender diversity in the maritime industry. With the introduction of 45% of female cadets in India, and females seafarers doubling globally, Maersk is challenging equality at sea. Signing up and training and retaining women in the industry means a future of brightness for diversity in one of the world’s oldest industries.