Columbia Group Advances Retention of Women Seafarers at She Beyond Conference
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- Ship managment internationalColumbia Group calls for greater focus on retaining women at sea as second She Beyond Conference takes place
- Hellenics Shipping newsColumbia Group calls for greater focus on retaining women at sea as second She Beyond Conference takes place
- safety 4seaColumbia Group calls for greater focus on retaining women in shipping
Columbia Group held the second edition of the She Beyond conference in Manila, staged as part of Crew Connect Global, with the aim of having the maritime industry build a future where women can progress, develop and lead on board. The event brought together women seafarers to share experiences, build connections and discuss how to expand professional opportunities for women throughout their careers at sea.
Gender imbalance in the industry
The conference takes place against a backdrop of concern over gender imbalance in the sector. According to the latest Women in Maritime survey by IMO and WISTA, published in May 2025, women account for just 1% of seafarers employed by the organizations surveyed, highlighting the need to strengthen recruitment, retention and career development.
Columbia Group's message
Claudia Paschkewitz, Director of Sustainability, Inclusion and Diversity at Columbia Group, stated that for years the focus has been on attracting more women to the maritime sector, but that recruitment is only the beginning. She pointed out that true progress is measured by whether women have equal opportunities to stay, advance and build sustainable careers, and stressed that retention and professional development must receive the same attention as recruitment if genuine gender equality is to be achieved.
Concrete programs and initiatives
Among the company's initiatives is the Mentorship Program for Women Cadets, which connects those entering the profession with experienced mentors who provide practical guidance as they adapt to life at sea. Through She Beyond, Columbia seeks to build a community of women seafarers who support one another and share experiences throughout their careers. The company also develops iCare Packs for women seafarers, containing personal care items and medical preparedness supplies, and runs wellbeing and assistance programs for crew members and their families affected by the war in Ukraine.
Simona Toma, Head of Maritime Human Resources at Columbia Group, said that She Beyond offers an opportunity to listen to the experiences of the company's women seafarers and understand what more can be done to support them. She added that the company's responsibility does not end when a cadet first goes to sea, but that the necessary support must be ensured so she can become an experienced officer and, eventually, a maritime leader.
