Breaking Waves: The Rise of Female Seafarers in the Philippines
- museomaritimo
- Aug 30
- 3 min read
August 30, 2025 — Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines
An Article by Kristine Mae Jacla
A traditionally male-centric industry, the maritime sector is now seeing a growing—yet still a small—presence of female seafarers. One of the leading suppliers of the 1.6 million seafarers worldwide is the Philippines. However, only 2–3% of sea-based workers deployed annually are women. Less than 10% are officers and ratings, and 90% of these female seafarers work in the hotel and service industries.
Currently, women make up only 1.2% of the seafaring workforce globally as per the BIMCO/ICS 2021 Seafarer Workforce Report.
Did You Know?
Many of our Filipina seafarers, like any other seafarers in the world, are met with challenges, disparities, and resistance just because of their gender.
These women on board often encounters discrimination, sexual harassment, and bullying by their colleagues of the opposite gender. Insufficient gender-sensitive facilities that are tailored to cater to our Filipina seafarers are also one of the challenges they often face on board.
Disparities in the educational sector are also very rampant to Filipina seafarers. According to the statistics shown by MARINA in 2022, on various maritime higher educational institutions (MHEIs) in the Philippines, only 1,166 females were enrolled in BS Marine Engineering (BSMARE) and 3,615 in BS Marine Transportation (BSMT) during the SY 2015-2016. Female BSMARE enrollees made up a little over 1 percent of the total enrollment and the proportion of female students in the BSMT program, however, was only 3%.
Professionals in the marine industry, both on land and at sea, have long viewed the industry as homogeneous in terms of its sociological nature and have consistently opposed greater inclusivity. Women continue to be disproportionately underrepresented as merchant marine officers and high-level executives on land, despite calls for openness and adaptability.
Support and Opportunities for Aspiring Female Seafarers
International and government agencies like the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) have shown great support for Filipino female seafarers through its programs and initiatives.
The IMO, through its Resolution A. 1770 (32), has proclaimed every 18th of May as the International Day for Women in Maritime.
MARINA has also explicitly stated its commitment to equality and inclusivity, particularly emphasizing fair treatment for women in maritime.
Together with IMO officials, Women in Maritime Philippines was established on July 7, 2007, marking a significant milestone for women working in the maritime industry. With members from all over the country, WIMAPHIL is now a nationwide organization. WIMAPHIL began the "She to Sea" campaign in June 2013 to increase awareness of the value of hiring female seafarers. The program's goal is to increase awareness of the value of hiring women to work at sea in a field that needs qualified shipboard officers.
Several leadership training and scholarships are also being offered by the IMO to female seafarers through its Women in Maritime Programme, under the slogan: "Training-Visibility-Recognition."
Female seafarers in the Philippines are slowly becoming changemakers and are making names in the industry. Despite systemic oppressions, these brave Filipinas continue to challenge and push boundaries. With better and accessible educational opportunities, stronger support systems, and developing industry norms, the horizon is wide open—and they are determined to sail toward a more inclusive maritime future.
References:
Baldonado, J. F., & Espiritu, M. N. C. (2024, December). Maximizing the potentials of Filipino female maritime seafarers in the maritime industry. International Journal of Social Science Research and Review, 7(12), 160–178. https://doi.org/10.47814/ijssrr.v7i12.2501
Tangi, L. (2016). Empowering Filipino Women Seafarers in the Maritime Sector. Public Policy Journal XV(2).
Women in Maritime. (n.d.). https://www.imo.org/en/ourwork/technicalcooperation/pages/womeninmaritime.aspx
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