The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Manila, together with the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs and maritime agencies, organized the seminar “Training Women to Rise: Navigating the Future of the Maritime Industry” to promote greater inclusion of women in seafaring. The event took place alongside the International Conference on Seafarers’ Human Rights, Safety, and Well-being in Manila.
Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines Christian Halaas Lyster stressed that mainstreaming gender equality in the maritime sector requires coordinated efforts across the industry.
“We must succeed in making the industry more inclusive, and more women are joining and shaping the sector than ever before,” he said.
Women currently account for only 1.2 percent of the global seafaring workforce.
Industry representatives including Knut Bentzrod, chief operating officer of the Norwegian Training Center; Mailyn Borillo, president of OSM Thome Philippines; and Daryl Sevilleno, president of Solstad Management Philippines Inc., shared their experiences and emphasized the importance of raising awareness among young women. Since 1993, more than 490 female cadets have received maritime training scholarships through the Norwegian Training Center.
Speakers also pointed to the need for incentives, safety measures, and career transition policies to ensure long-term participation of women in seafaring. The seminar highlighted best practices and initiatives that can support women in building sustainable careers in the maritime industry.
