Yu Jiajia of Dalian Maritime University to Receive 2027 IMO Award
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Yu Jiajia, Teaching Chief Mate and instructor at Dalian Maritime University, was selected to receive the IMO Gender Equality Award 2027, after being nominated by China. The decision was endorsed by the IMO Council during its 138th session, held in London from 2 to 6 November 2026. The award will be presented in May 2027, as part of the International Day for Women in Maritime celebrations on 18 May, at IMO headquarters in London, according to Xinde Marine News, which also notes that Yu is the first Chinese national to receive this distinction and the fourth person to obtain it since its creation, following winners from Cyprus, the Netherlands and Japan.
Seagoing career and teaching
Over the past 16 years, Yu combined her experience as a ship's officer with teaching, research and mentoring at the Navigation College of Dalian Maritime University. She was the first woman under the jurisdiction of the Liaoning Maritime Safety Administration to obtain a Certificate of Competency for unrestricted navigation; according to Xinde Marine News, that third officer's certificate was granted to her on 5 September 2019. With more than 50 months of sea service, she rose from cadet to third officer, second officer and finally Teaching Chief Mate, and also holds a Magnetic Compass Adjuster Certificate, having carried out more than 50 adjustments and corrections.
Mentoring for women cadets
Yu carried out more than 100 one-on-one professional mentoring sessions for women students and promoted active roles for female cadets in bridge operations, rescue and firefighting. As an instructor aboard the ocean-going training ship Yu Kun, she supervised close to 3,000 students, of whom more than 1,000 were women. Her academic work includes participation in more than 30 research projects on maritime education, contributions to more than 10 teaching reform initiatives, and co-authorship of more than 10 professional textbooks.
Honorary mention for Gemma Griffin
In addition to selecting Yu Jiajia, the IMO Council awarded a Letter of Commendation to Gemma Griffin, Vice President and Global Head of Crewing at DFDS, nominated by Denmark, in recognition of her work to expand women's access to maritime careers through education, mentoring, sea time and employment opportunities, as well as her contribution to gender equality in workforce development.
Gender gap in the industry
Xinde Marine News noted that the IMO-WISTA Women in Maritime Survey 2024, published in 2025, found that women account for only around 1% of seafarers employed by the surveyed organizations, and that among its recommendations are strengthening recruitment and retention, expanding mentoring and leadership development, and ensuring safe and supportive working environments.
