At present, the strength of women seafarers in India is approximately 10,300

The government envisions increasing the strength of women Merchant Navy personnel from India by three times by the end of 2026, for which the Directorate General, Shipping (DGS), has initiated several steps such as review of existing policies and providing incentives to prospective cadets.

A task force has been set up to review the policies and regulations governing the employment and working conditions of women seafarers and suggest changes or inclusion of new clauses to provide them equal employment opportunities and ensure their safety and well-being, Capt (Dr) Daniel Joseph, Deputy Director-General, Shipping, said during a visit to Chandigarh.

At present, the strength of women seafarers in India is approximately 10,300. They began joining the Merchant Navy about 15 years ago, and about 50 have reached the apex level of Captain or Chief Engineer on board sailing vessels. The total active seafarer community in India numbers about 3.2 lakh, according to data available with Merchant Navy associations.

In November, the DGS constituted the ‘Task Force on Women in Maritime’, recognising the pressing need to address the issues and challenges being faced by women in the maritime sector.

The task force, headed by Harjeet Kaur Joshi, former chairperson of the Shipping Corporation of India, includes representatives from the maritime industry, shipping firms, allied offices and other stakeholders to work for and look after women seafarers’ cause, issues and support their well-being at sea and ashore, Capt Joseph said.

Besides examining the working conditions, operating environment and infrastructural requirements from a gender perspective, the task force will identify the barriers to entry, retention and advancement for women in both seafaring and shore-based roles and propose solutions.

It will also suggest strategies to raise awareness about the contribution of women in the maritime sector and explore potential funding sources to support its initiatives, including partnerships with industry stakeholders, grants from government organisations and sponsorships.

The Ministry of Ports and Shipping, under whose purview the DGS functions, is also looking at measures like providing scholarships to deserving women cadets and forming all-woman batches for training.

According to available figures, 17 percent of the seafarers worldwide belong to India, the second highest number after the Philippines. Women seafarers form just about three per cent of India’s manpower contribution to the Merchant Navy.