Campaign To Help Gender Diversity In Seafaring
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the local chapter of Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association [WISTA Bermuda] have joined a global campaign to educate the seafaring community on the topic of gender diversity.
The local group seeks to get the educational booklet onto every ship that calls on Bermuda. With the support of Polaris Holding Company, WISTA Bermuda representatives launched the campaign at the Stevedoring Services port facility with a presentation of the booklet to the Captain of MV Somers Isle, Emile Koelhuis and Tyutyaryev Valeriy, Captain of the MV Bermuda Islander, a Bermuda Island Shipping vessel.
WISTA Bermuda members celebrate International Woman’s Day 2019 with a nod to this year’s theme, #balancebetter encouraging moves to a gender-balanced world: Cheryl Hayward-Chew, Tammy Richardson-Augustus, Carmen Tucker strike a ‘balanced’ pose.
The 24-page booklet was designed to sensitise the seafarer community to the many challenges faced by women in the industry by changing behavior and instilling empathy into the views held about gender.
It addresses identity, sexual harassment, issues of isolation, bullying and practical considerations for the health and welfare of women in a male-dominated environment. Through the simple language and illustrations, the booklet serves as a tool to confront critical social, cultural and interpersonal issues that will impede the cohesiveness and productivity of a ship’s crew.
WISTA Founding Director and Chief Legal Counsel, Tammy Richardson presented copies of the WISTA Gender Diversity booklet to Tyutyaryev Valeriy, Captain of the MV Bermuda Islander, a Bermuda Island Shipping vessel while Emile Koelhuis, Captain of MV Somers Isles looks on.
WISTA Bermuda Chief Legal Counsel and Founding Director, Tammy Richardson-Augustus who also serves as a director of Polaris Holding Company Ltd., addressed the gathering and made the booklet presentation.
She said, “Women form 39.3% of the workforce globally, 49.9% in Bermuda, yet women seafarers constitute only 2% of the total number of seafarers sailing on the high seas. There are many historic and cultural reasons for that gap but now our industry understands the need to create an environment that is more hospitable to women in the industry.
“At WISTA Bermuda we are proud to mark International Woman’s Day by launching the Gender Diversity Booklet Distribution campaign on the City Docks. Big change starts with incremental change. We are optimistic that education and sensitization will be the start of a ‘sea change’ in inclusivity and gender parity.”
Captain Emile Koelhuis of MV Somers Isles, listens intently as Tammy Richardson-Augustus outlines the goals of the gender-diversity booklet distribution campaign. Fellow WISTA Director, Cheryl Hayward-Chew looks on.
Cheryl Hayward-Chew, WISTA Bermuda founding director emphasised, “The value of equality and mutual respect on a team’s cohesiveness and productivity is undeniable. Gender should not be an impediment to the team’s success and the first step is understanding and empathy. We are pleased to play our role in providing tools for build and maintain inclusivity and gender parity in the world of shipping and trade.”
WISTA Bermuda representative Adele Chaisson accepted the booklet from Richardson-Augustus on behalf of the MV Oleander, as CFO of managing agent, Neptune Group Management Limited. Carmen Tucker, WISTA Bermuda Director joined Cheryl-Hayward Chew, WISTA Bermuda Director, Bermuda International Shipping Ltd. Director and President & CEO of local agent, Meyer Agencies for the presentation.
The full WISTA Gender Diversity Book 2019 follows below [PDF here]:
Valiant effort, but the shipping industry will remain the same. You are targeting ships crew, who have nothing to say about who gets placed on a ship.