The maritime industry and the role of women seafarers: A legal regulatory framework

Abstract

For thousands of years, it was believed that the maritime industry was reserved only for men. However, this perception has slowly begun to change. In today’s world, women seafarers still represent a very small percentage of the maritime workforce, which has limited their opportunities to engage in more active employment role. Further, as today’s shipping industry is more global and interconnected than ever before, its success depends largely on its ability to support its human resources. Such support must include a push from within to attract more women to its workforce. Nevertheless, empowering women to join this industry requires gender-based policy making, as well as international and national regulatory frameworks and educational support.
 This article addresses the role of women seafarers in the maritime industry by examining and identifying obstacles they face during the course of their employment. Educational and cultural, traditional, religious, social matters, gender discrimination, prejudice, sexism and sexual harassment, rejection of women's application on the grounds of gender, creation of “artificial difficulties” to promote women mariners to senior positions, employment in inappropriate positions, insufficient legal protection, are wide range of barriers that have direct negative impact on women engagement into maritime business. As well as how international legal and regulatory frameworks presently address this issue. Furthermore, this article identifies and analyzes policy initiatives put forward by international organizations that encourage more industry education, training and participation for women seafarers. Additionally, this article will present a gender equality analysis of the present state of the industry with respect to women in the Republic of Georgia. This analysis includes a study of relevant international maritime law, Georgian law and domestic regulations and policies. Lastly, this article provides recommendations on how the maritime industry can empower women to join the industry, especially as it becomes more reliant on technology.