Authority encourages women to choose maritime careers

THE National Maritime Safety Authority (NMSA) has urged all stakeholders in private and public sectors to work together to achieve gender equality and empower women in maritime.
NMSA representatives met with the college academic staff and the female students during an awarness visit to PNG Maritime College in Madang where 14 young women who were undergoing training and 10 female staff attended.
Participants were informed of the PNG Women in Maritime (PNG WIMA) and Pacific Women in Maritime Associations (PacWIMA) network, eligibility for membership of the associations, its goals and objectives and the benefits of joining PNG WIMA.
The visit was part of the NMSA’s community service obligations supporting community awareness programmes on small craft safety and women in maritime initiatives to support employment and training opportunities for women in the maritime sector.
PNGWIMA was established in 2007 and involved in the national maritime sector through on-the-ground activities to promote maritime careers for women and gender equality in maritime.
According to NMSA’s seafarers registration statistics, out of the 5,500 PNG seafarers, only 1.4 per cent are female.
NMSA general manager Paul Unas said the authority would continue to support the participation of the roles of women in both shore-based and sea-going jobs.