WOMEN'S leadership in the maritime industry is a controversial subject, and the trend of women's rights has become a fascinating topic for debate, particularly in professions that are still dominated by men.
It has been a longstanding practice in the maritime community to perceive sailing and other sea-related occupations as a male-only realm.
However, in today's community, such a norm is no longer regarded as "logical".
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) launched the Integration of Women in the Maritime Sector (IWMS) programme in 1988, which is credited with establishing fair recognition of women's contributions to the maritime industry.
Indeed, "Empowering Women in the Maritime Community" was chosen as the 2019 World Maritime Day theme.
This provided an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of gender equality in accordance with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as to highlight the significant contribution of women worldwide to the maritime sector.
There have been several women leaders who have gained recognition in the maritime profession. Among them is Commander Maritime Dr Suzanna Razali Chan, who was recognised as a global women's icon in the field of maritime search and rescue by the International Maritime Rescue Federation.
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu distinguished research fellow Datuk Dr Nor Aieni Hj Mokhtar was among the 15 experts appointed as Decade Advisory Board of UN's Ocean Decade by Unesco's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission.
Next is Women in Maritime Association (MyWIMA) president Dr Yasmin Mohd Hasni. MyWIMA serves as the National Chapter of Women in Maritime Associations to implement the IMO Integration of Women in Maritime programmes in Malaysia.
For the future maritime community, workplace and gender diversity in leadership are critical. The lack of female leaders is the biggest barrier to female leadership.
People need to be encouraged, and leadership is all about that. It necessitates transformational leadership, in which a female leader encourages and inspires her people to go forward.
Although the number of women graduating from universities and other educational and training institutions with ocean and maritime programmes has increased rapidly in the last few decades, the empowerment of women leaders in the maritime sector in Malaysia has fallen short.
Women presently account for less than two per cent of the maritime industry's workforce (according to International Transport Workers' Federation estimations).
Thus, Malaysia must continue to proliferate gender equality in the sector by ensuring future maritime leaders have access to education, training and capacity-building in support of the UN's SDGs, particularly Goal 5 (Gender Equality).
It is critical to have coalitions that are making a deliberate effort to assist women in becoming leaders in the industry.
There are three notable associations that support women's involvement in the industry so far — Malaysian Women in Maritime Association, Women in Logistics and Transport and Women's International Shipping and Trading Association.
Efforts should be focused on identifying and removing the physical and social barriers that prevent women from participating in maritime professions.
Increasing gender tolerance requires a wider array of innovative insights from people from many facets of the maritime community.
The importance of advancing women's participation in the maritime industry has attracted tremendous attention and interest.
For this reason, the IMO Assembly has adopted a resolution declaring an International Day for Women in Maritime, to be marked annually on May 18th.
It is high time to shift the maritime industry's culture by providing opportunities for women to reduce inequalities.
Dear ladies, you are never too small to make a difference. Always aim high, put in the effort, and be passionate about what you believe in. Roll the dice, make a difference by arming yourself with knowledge, expertise and leadership skills to take a seat in the maritime field and race with the men.
The writer is a senior lecturer at the Maritime Studies Faculty, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, and a Women's International Shipping and Trading Association Malaysia committee member