The maritime industry in India has traditionally been dominated by men. For many years, very few women considered seafaring because of long contracts, limited awareness, safety concerns, and family hesitation.
That situation is now changing. More women are joining maritime institutes, completing professional training, and working onboard ships. Their overall share is still small, but the growth recorded in recent years shows that women are becoming an important part of India’s maritime future.
Women seafarers are female maritime professionals who work onboard merchant ships and other vessels. They may serve as deck cadets, deck officers, engineers, ratings, electrical officers, catering crew, or in other operational roles.
Their responsibilities are based on rank, training, qualification, and department. Like male seafarers, they must complete approved maritime education, safety courses, medical examinations, sea service, and competency requirements before progressing in their careers.
According to the DG Shipping Crew Annual Report, India had approximately 3.07 lakh active seafarers in 2024. Women represented around 1.9 percent of this active maritime workforce.
This means that roughly one out of every 50 Indian seafarers was a woman. The number remains low when compared with male participation, showing that women are still underrepresented in seafaring careers.
Although the total share remains limited, the growth rate is encouraging. The report showed approximately 270.7 percent growth in the number of women seafarers between 2020 and 2024.
Such rapid growth indicates that more women are considering maritime careers. Families, institutes, shipping companies, and government bodies are also becoming more accepting of women working onboard ships and entering professional maritime roles.
Seafaring requires professionals to remain away from home for several months. The job involves long working hours, changing weather conditions, mixed-nationality crews, strict discipline, and physically demanding situations.
Many families continue to worry about safety, workplace culture, and life onboard. Limited awareness about career options and the small number of visible female role models also make it difficult for young women to imagine themselves working at sea.
Women are increasingly learning that the maritime industry offers professional growth, international exposure, technical knowledge, financial independence, and opportunities to reach senior positions.
Better access to maritime education, scholarships, online information, and successful female officers has increased awareness. Women who once considered the Merchant Navy unusual are now beginning to see it as a serious and rewarding career option.
The DG Shipping report indicated that around 95 percent of women seafarers were engaged in the nautical department. This includes deck-side duties related to navigation, cargo operations, bridge watchkeeping, safety, and communication.
The strong presence of women on the nautical side is encouraging. Female deck cadets and officers are proving that navigation, leadership, and shipboard operations depend on training and competence, not gender.
The number of women working in marine engineering remains comparatively low. Engine-room work includes operating and maintaining propulsion machinery, generators, pumps, electrical equipment, fuel systems, and safety machinery.
Marine engineering requires technical understanding, discipline, and practical ability. Women can perform these responsibilities when they receive proper training and equal opportunity. Greater participation in engineering can help create a more balanced maritime workforce.
Women seafarers may face limited job openings, fewer female colleagues, unsuitable accommodation, lack of privacy, discrimination, or difficulty finding mentors. Some candidates may also experience hesitation from recruiters or family members.
These challenges can affect both entry and long-term career growth. Shipping companies must ensure that recruitment, training, appraisal, and promotion are based on qualification, competence, and professional performance.
A safe working environment is essential for every seafarer. Women must have access to proper accommodation, privacy, protective equipment, medical support, secure reporting systems, and respectful treatment onboard.
Complaints involving harassment, discrimination, or unfair behaviour should be handled quickly and professionally. Women are more likely to enter and continue in seafaring careers when they trust the company and feel protected by clear policies.
Women and men performing the same rank and responsibilities should receive equal wages, training opportunities, and promotion consideration. Professional growth must depend on performance, experience, competency, and conduct.
Women should also receive opportunities to move into senior roles such as Master, Chief Engineer, superintendent, surveyor, instructor, and maritime manager. Entry-level growth becomes meaningful only when long-term advancement is equally available.
DG Shipping has taken steps to improve the visibility and participation of women in the maritime industry. Guidelines issued through M.S. Notice 07 of 2019 focused on improving working conditions and opportunities for women seafarers.
The guidelines addressed areas such as non-discrimination in employment, wages, and promotions. They also highlighted the importance of fair complaint procedures, including the handling of sexual harassment complaints onboard vessels.
The cost of maritime education can be a major barrier for many candidates. Pre-sea training, uniforms, documents, medical tests, travel, and accommodation can place financial pressure on families.
Financial support has therefore been provided to eligible Indian women undergoing pre-sea courses at DG Shipping-approved Maritime Training Institutes. The support amount was increased from ₹50,000 to ₹1,00,000 from the financial year 2019–20.
Shipping companies can increase women’s participation by creating fair recruitment policies, providing suitable onboard facilities, ensuring proper safety systems, and giving women access to all eligible ranks and departments.
Companies should also train crew members on respectful workplace behaviour. Mentorship programmes, transparent promotion systems, clear complaint channels, and leadership support can help women remain in the industry and build long-term careers.
Role models help young women understand that a maritime career is possible. Seeing female captains, engineers, officers, surveyors, and instructors can build confidence and reduce fear about entering a male-dominated profession.
Successful women seafarers can also guide new candidates about training, life at sea, career planning, and workplace challenges. Their journeys can help families make better-informed decisions about maritime careers for their daughters.
The growth recorded between 2020 and 2024 shows that women’s participation in Indian maritime careers is moving in a positive direction. However, reaching meaningful representation will require continuous effort.
Training institutes, shipping companies, regulators, families, and senior seafarers must work together. Safer workplaces, equal opportunities, strong mentorship, financial assistance, and better awareness can help more women enter and remain in the industry.
The Merchant Navy can offer women a respected, challenging, and rewarding career. However, candidates should understand the lifestyle, training requirements, sea-service conditions, and responsibilities before joining.
Always choose a DG Shipping-approved institute, verify the course and company, understand the career path, and speak with experienced women seafarers. Do not select maritime training only because of salary promises or misleading advertisements.
Women may still represent a small part of India’s seafaring workforce, but their rapid growth shows that the industry is changing. The sea rewards discipline, competence, courage, and responsibility. These qualities are not limited by gender.
Women formed approximately 1.9 percent of India’s 3.07 lakh active seafarers in 2024, according to the referenced DG Shipping Crew Annual Report.
The number of women seafarers reportedly grew by approximately 270.7 percent between 2020 and 2024.
Around 95 percent of women seafarers were reported to be working in the nautical department.
Yes. Women can study marine engineering, complete the required training and sea service, clear competency examinations, and progress through engineering ranks.
Financial support has been provided to eligible Indian women undertaking pre-sea training at DG Shipping-approved Maritime Training Institutes.
It can be a rewarding career for women who understand the lifestyle, meet the required standards, and are comfortable with long periods away from home.
Challenges may include limited representation, privacy concerns, discrimination, harassment risks, lack of mentorship, and fewer opportunities in certain departments.
Yes. Women can progress to senior ranks such as Master or Chief Engineer after completing the required sea service, examinations, certification, and professional experience.
Disclaimer :- The opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author and may not necessarily reflect those of Merchant Navy Decoded. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information provided and disclaim any responsibility for it. Data and visuals used are sourced from publicly available information and may not be authenticated by any regulatory body. Reviews and comments appearing on our blogs represent the opinions of individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views of Merchant Navy Decoded. We are not responsible for any loss or damage resulting from reliance on these reviews or comments.
Reproduction, copying, sharing, or use of the article or images in any form is strictly prohibited without prior permission from both the author and Merchant Navy Decoded.
Decoded Discount Alert! up to 50% OFF
Decoded Discount Alert! up to 50% OFF
Use Coupon Code Deep50
