<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The
International Maritime Organization (IMO) has issued a powerful call to global
shipping stakeholders to transition from high-level policy making to active
operational enforcement regarding gender diversity. Aligning with the
International Day for Women in Maritime on May 18, the United Nations’
specialized agency tasked with regulating global shipping is pushing for
structural overhauls. This year's central directive, "From Policy to
Practice: Advancing Gender Equality for Maritime Excellence," demands measurable
progress across all tiers of the multi-billion dollar trade, seeking to bridge
the historic gender gap that has long characterized seafaring and offshore
operations.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Addressing
the global maritime community at the organization's London headquarters, IMO
Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez stressed that symbolic commitments are no
longer sufficient to solve the systemic challenges faced by female
professionals. Highlighting that persistent barriers continue to stifle
recruitment and career progression, Dominguez urged industry leaders to conduct
a rigorous self-assessment. He underscored the necessity of implementing
practical, structural mechanisms to replace corporate rhetoric with visible,
long-term operational changes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">To provide
companies and port administrations with actionable strategies, the IMO has
launched the official <i>Handbook on Gender Mainstreaming</i>. Co-developed
with the World Maritime University and authored by former seafarer Professor
Momoko Kitada—who was simultaneously honored with the 2026 IMO Gender Equality
Award—the new manual functions as an operational guide for integrating gender
perspectives directly into corporate structures, maritime training
institutions, and port facilities. Industry experts have lauded the handbook as
a timely tool to standardise workplace inclusivity protocols worldwide.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The
initiative actively targets a dual-layered transformation across both offshore
and onshore sectors. Beyond increasing female representation on commercial
vessels, the global strategy focuses heavily on promoting corporate leadership,
maritime engineering opportunities, and logistical roles on land. By
establishing concrete, daily practices that protect and advance female
professionals, the international body intends to turn the annual observance
into a catalyst for steady, metric-driven economic and operational excellence
across global supply chains.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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