European Parliament debate: Empowering Women in Transport: The Maritime industry and the role of the EU, 27 June 2023

Women are under-represented in the maritime sector. This event was the opportunity to share the positive example of cruise, and to raise awareness among the maritime community and policy makers about the importance of attracting women and young people to the maritime sector.

To listen, two episodes of the “Shipping Podcast” by Lena Göthberg. 
Listening to those podcasts gives you a clear view of the issues raised that day.
In the first episode, you clearly hear the intervention of Vanessa De Michelle, 1st Officer Carnival Maritime and Costa Cruises, sharing her experience onboard and giving her insights: https://ow.ly/X5a450PsFHo 

At the beginning of the second episode, you can hear the discussion after the video testimony of Martel Fursdon, Deputy Captain of Ventura, P&O Cruises, was shown to the audience: https://bit.ly/479AvD9

“My place is on a ship!”

It was great to hear Vanessa De Michelle, 1st officer at Carnival and Costa Cruises, sharing her experience as a woman officer onboard of a cruise ship in front of stakeholders from European institutions, brought together by MEP Vera Tax in the European Parliament to discuss Empowering Women in Transport: The Maritime industry and the role of the EU.

Women are under-represented in the maritime sector. However, Out of the 2% of women seafarers globally, 94% of them are in the cruise industry. This event was the opportunity to share the positive example of cruise, and to raise awareness among the maritime community and policy makers about the importance of attracting women and young people to the maritime sector.

The cruise industry was represented in the panel by Vanessa De Michelle, 1st officer Carnival Maritime and Costa Cruises, who gave a motivational speech regarding her own career path from cadet to 1st officer and highlighted elements that she considered could help in attracting more women to pursue a career in the maritime industry.

We also shared a “seafarer testimony” video of Martel Fursdon, Deputy Captain of Ventura, P&O Cruises which provided food for thought and discussion.

The advice they gave to the audience to make women feel welcomed on board are:

• The “role model” factor: having a role model and being a role model is helping to create trust and confidence for women.
• Team spirit: It is critical to create a good team spirit on board, among women and with men.
• The speak up culture: Understanding that whenever you speak up, there is a result and actions are taken.

Other panelists were Lena Göthberg, presenter and producer of the Shipping Podcast, Line Heimstad, European Transport Workers Federation, ETF, David Kerr, member of Commissioner Dalli’s cabinet and Sotiris Raptis, Secretary-General of European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) and the debate was moderated by Marjolein Van Noort, EU representative of the KVNR | Royal Association of Dutch Shipowners.

Summarizing the debate, MEP Tax noted the following key elements:

• Show & Tell! Strengthen the awareness of the sector, especially among young people [man and woman!] by talking to them.
• Build and invest in the work culture, both on board and ashore.
• Facilitate practical matters on board including sanitary facilities and already take this into account when building ships, but also facilitate the right work clothing.
• Work together in the maritime cluster to offer new and current seafarers a maritime career that also provides clarity if you would like to have children in the future.
• Have data, there is still too little of that knowledge.

MEP Tax pointed out: “A good work environment for women is a good workplace for everybody. The more diverse a workforce is, the better it will perform.”

It is well known that a diverse teams boost creativity and Innovation. Workplace diversity creates greater opportunities for professional growth.

Achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls is one of the Sustainable Development Goals.  The cruise industry takes this goal seriously. Out of the 2% of women seafarers globally, 94% of them are in the cruise industry.  At the same time, in the cruise sector, around 50% of women hold positions of mid-level seniority or higher.  Cruise provides advancement opportunities for women, both on and off the ship.

MEP Tax concluded by indicating that she looks forward to continuing the dialogue and emphasized that gender equality is not just a responsibility of women, but of all of us and that this requires awareness and concrete actions.