The first edition of the International Day for Women in Maritime – 18 May

International Day for Women in Maritime, initiated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), is celebrated on 18 May each year. The proposal to establish an International Day for Women in Maritime, was approved by the IMO Technical Cooperation Committee (TCC) in September 2021 and endorsed by the IMO Council in November 2021. 

For this first edition, IMO is planning an international symposium, virtually, on the theme: “Training – Visibility – Recognition: Supporting a barrier-free working environment”.

The symposium will highlight the need for women to be more visible and mainstreamed in the maritime community, on board ships and throughout the sector as a whole, and more widely in representation at decision-making levels. The symposium will also address skills development for women in the maritime sector.

International Day for Women in Maritime celebrates women in the industry and is intended to promote the recruitment, retention and sustained employment of women in the maritime sector, raise the profile of women in maritime, strengthen IMO’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5 (gender equality) and support work to address the current gender imbalance in maritime.

IMO Member States, the maritime industry, and all others in the maritime endeavour are invited to promote and celebrate the International Day for Women in Maritime in an appropriate and meaningful manner.

Check out the logo for the International Day for Women in Maritime :

The logo concept “Symbol of Women in Maritime” derives from merging the female gender symbol and iconic maritime anchor symbol.