WISTA Golden Jubilee events highlights the challenges facing female seafarers

On 26 November 2024, representatives from Nautilus International travelled to the House of Lords for an event hosted by the Women's International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) and sponsored by the Union.

The event, celebrating WISTA's 50^th anniversary, consisted of two panels, the first of which featured founding members of WISTA who discussed the history of the organisation in the context of their own experiences within maritime shipping and trading. Panelists highlighted the historic inequalities and discriminatory policies that brought about the need to establish WISTA in 1974, and how the organisation has since worked to bring women within the sector together to enact positive change. However, while there have been many positive developments, panelists also acknowledged that there is still more work to be done, with WISTA's role remaining as relevant as ever.

The second panel was chaired by Nautilus director of communications, campaigns, and digital Helen Kelly, and featured women currently working within the maritime sector, several of whom were Nautilus members. Attendees were offered insights into the range of contemporary issues facing female maritime professionals, including problems with maternity leave, sexual harassment, and the lack of essential sanitary provisions onboard while at sea.

A key insight taken from this discussion was the existence of several unfair 'burdens' affecting female seafarers concerning issues around maternity leave and pay. Several panelists reported how they were made to leave work at an earlier time than expected due to pregnancy, and lost vital sea time. Also discussed was the endemic issue of sexual harassment. Former Nautilus council member Ann Pletschke highlighted the need for comprehensive education about consent to be made mandatory for all cadets, alongside stronger mechanisms for reporting harassment and sexual assault onboard. 

The tone of the event was one of cautious optimism. Panelists highlighted the work being done across the sector to resolve numerous issues disproportionately affecting female seafarers and attendees were inspired by the illustrious and varied careers being showcased.  However, echoed within both panel discussions was the view that although great steps have been made since the establishment of WISTA in 1974, there is still much to be done to achieve full equality within the maritime sector.