Follow The AP Moller-Maersk Example If Gender Equality At Workplace Is The Priority

It had set a target of equal gender representation amongst its cadet intake by 2027. It has taken a major leap with epoch-making strides that should inarguably serve as a benchmark across professions and sectors. It has already onboarded 45 per cent of its nautical and engineering cadets from amongst deserving women. Welcome to the Copenhagen-headquartered A.P. Moller - Maersk, a global leader and an integrated logistics company working to connect and simplify its customers’ supply chains, employing over one lakh persons drawn from across 130 countries, left no stone unturned to ensure that the strength of Indian women seafarers surge from 41 to over 350 in a mere three years as the company takes a holistic approach towards gender equality and diversity.

The primary objective of the programme, aptly called- Equal at Sea Initiative, flagged off in 2022, is to achieve gender equality among Maersk seafarers, address the underrepresentation of women amongst them and create an ecosystem for the entire Indian maritime sector. The message is loud and clear-gender diversity. The programme brings different stakeholders across industries on a common platform, which serves as a hub for exchanging ideas, understanding industry challenges, learning from the experiences and expertise of one another and implementing the best practices to ensure a more robust performance.

Incidentally, the success of the 'Equal At Sea' initiative in India so far has contributed to Maersk's global progress in improving gender diversity. The number of women seafarers in the Maersk fleet has more than doubled from 295 in 2021 to over 650 and counting in 2024. The percentage of women in its global pool, which was at 2.3 per cent in 2022, is now at 5.5 per cent. The company aims to carry this momentum forward from cadet onboarding to recruitment and create an environment that allows women to thrive in what is generally presumed as a male-dominated sector.

In 2023, it launched a ‘Women Rating Programme’, as a sub-programme of 'Equal At Sea'. It started on a rather modest note in India with 22 women trainees. Building on its success, Maersk added two subsequent additional batches and now has a total of 70 women undergoing training. To put it in the words of Freddy Svane, the Ambassador of Denmark to India, "The seas know no gender. By championing diversity in maritime careers, Maersk is not only steering towards equality but also charting a course for innovation and growth in the shipping industry.

Denmark and India, as maritime nations, must lead this tide of change. This industry-wide effort to create more opportunities for women in maritime careers will undoubtedly strengthen our global shipping community and drive progress and sustainability in the years to come." Actually what is true for sea and shipping sectors, is equally true for other sectors. Gender diversity and gender equality are much talked about issues, although there is nothing happening on the ground. But this needs to be addressed on an urgent basis. The company has walked the talk. Others need to take a tip or two and pursue a similar path, if gender equality is what really drives them.