FOR GENDER equality in maritime to be realised, networking must move beyond gathering contacts and sharing experiences and strategies.

That was the message of Deputy Director General of the Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ), Claudia Grant, at a recent event observing International Day for Women in Maritime under the theme ‘Mobilising networks for gender equality’.

Grant said the mobilisation of networks is important to drive desired change and not simply “knock at the door or build stamina to persevere and endure”, adding, “There is the need for strategic partnerships with industry stakeholders as well as civil society, which will help to effect the policy changes needed; there is the need to identify, highlight and celebrate women’s achievements in the sector.”

THE MARITIME Authority of Jamaica (MAJ) hosted an event to showcase the contributions of women to the sector on International Day for Women in Maritime on Thursday, May 18.

The event’s keynote speaker, Pat Francis, chair of Jamaica’s Trade Facilitation Task Force, said while statistics show women are under-represented in the maritime industry, particularly in seafaring roles – where they are only 1.2 per cent of global seafaring workforce – there has been a growing push to increase gender diversity and inclusion in recent years, which has resulted in an increase in the number of women in the workforce since 2015.

Jamaica underscored the importance of being at the heart of international maritime regulation by holding a reception in London last Thursday to launch its campaign for re-election to Category C of the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for the 2024-25 biennium.

ON SEPTEMBER 29, Jamaica joins with other International Maritime Organization (IMO) member states and observer international organisations across the globe to celebrate World Maritime Day under the
theme, ‘New Technologies for Greener Shipping’. As a largely maritime state, Jamaica supports the green transition of the maritime sector into a sustainable future, while we work together to ensure
cohesiveness and partnership. Indeed, we will leave no one behind. This support is demonstrated by the passage of the ballast water act in 2019, which is aimed at protecting Jamaica’s marine environment. This is also in keeping with commitments under the Ballast Water Management Convention, of which Jamaica is a signatory. With over 90 per cent of Jamaica’s trade conducted by sea, the Government recognises
the importance of the Blue Economy in spurring economic growth and development.

As the international shipping community comes together to mark World Maritime Day, the Maritime Authority of Jamaica pledges to work with its regional partners to promote a culture of enterprise
where new technologies can be developed to facilitate greener shipping and protect our vital marine environment while also being mindful of the need for shipping to decarbonize by 2050.