The Philippine maritime community successfully celebrated the International Day of Women in Maritime through a meaningful forum organized by Women in Maritime Philippines (WIMAPHIL) on May 18 at the Manila Prince Hotel.

Carrying the theme, “Voices of Resilient Women in Maritime in the Face of Global Uncertainty,” the event gathered maritime stakeholders, industry leaders, educators, cadets, shipping executives, government representatives, maritime professionals, and advocacy groups in support of women empowerment, diversity, and inclusivity within the maritime sector.

The forum served as a platform to recognize the growing contribution of women in the maritime industry and to encourage stronger collaboration in creating equal opportunities for women both onshore and onboard vessels. Participants also highlighted the importance of supporting women leaders and professionals as the maritime industry continues to face global challenges and changing demands.


Representatives from various maritime organizations, institutions, and companies joined the celebration, including the Maritime Industry Authority, Philippine Commission on Women, Association of Licensed Manning Agencies Maritime Group, Archipelago Philippine Ferries Corporation, Hafnia, and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources NCR.

The event featured discussions focusing on gender mainstreaming, policy outlooks, workplace inclusivity, leadership opportunities, and the continuing efforts to strengthen women’s visibility and participation in maritime operations and management. Topics also highlighted the importance of addressing existing challenges and gaps within the maritime sector while promoting a more inclusive working environment for future generations.

Participants shared insights on how the maritime industry continues to evolve and how women are increasingly taking active roles in maritime education, shipping operations, vessel management, administration, logistics, fisheries, and corporate leadership. The forum also emphasized the value of resilience, professionalism, and collaboration in overcoming barriers traditionally faced by women in the industry.

Several maritime schools, training centers, manning agencies, shipping companies, and maritime organizations also attended the event to express support for women in maritime and to strengthen industry-wide advocacy for equality and empowerment. Many attendees described the forum as inspiring and timely, especially as more women continue to enter the maritime profession and take leadership positions across different sectors.

The successful celebration reflected the Philippines’ continuing commitment to global efforts promoting diversity, equality, and inclusivity in the maritime industry. Stakeholders emphasized that the country remains supportive of international initiatives recognizing the vital role of women in maritime and the need to create safer, more inclusive, and more empowering work environments.

The Philippines has consistently participated in activities supporting the International Day of Women in Maritime and continues to encourage wider participation of women in both sea-based and shore-based careers. Maritime leaders noted that women are playing increasingly important roles in strengthening the maritime workforce and contributing to the development of the global shipping industry.

Participants also stressed that empowering women in maritime is not only about representation but also about strengthening innovation, leadership, sustainability, and long-term industry growth. They expressed hope that more young women will be inspired to pursue maritime careers as awareness, opportunities, and support systems continue to expand.

As the forum concluded, participants reaffirmed their shared commitment to building a maritime industry where women are empowered, respected, supported, and given equal opportunities to grow and succeed. The celebration once again demonstrated the unity of the Philippine maritime community in promoting inclusivity and recognizing the important contribution of women in shaping the future of the maritime sector.