‘Get yourself a proper job girlie!’: recruitment, retention and women seafarers* [1]

Abstract

This paper considers the issue of women's employment at sea in view of the current and predicted labour shortage in the industry. It reports on an International Labour Organization (ILO) commissioned study which aimed to explore employment policies and practices regarding women seafarers and the experiences of women seafarers themselves. The data suggested that those employers who had experience employing women seafarers were generally very positive about their skills and abilities. Women seafarers themselves were dedicated and committed to a sea-going career. The paper concludes that women seafarers are an under-recognized resource and, if utilized, could fill labour shortages in the industry, both in sea-going positions and in marine positions ashore that require sea-going experience. A series of recommendations are outlined in order to promote the recruitment and retention of women at sea.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to the ILO for providing funding for the study from which this paper is drawn and to the research team involved in the study: Phil Belcher, Helen Sampson, Jaime Veiga and Minghua Zhoa. Thanks also to Phil Belcher, Mick Bloor, Helen Sampson and Jaime Veiga for their comments on an earlier draft of this paper.