The International Maritime Employers Committee has unveiled “She Sails,” a new IMEC funding initiative that aims to encourage and recognize member companies that successfully support female cadets through training, promotion and retention within the maritime industry.
The IMEC She Sails Funding Initiative will allocate $500,000, split into two pots—one dedicated to the Philippines ($250,000) and another for female seafarers globally ($250,000). This funding will apply to cadets or seafarers beyond just those under the IMEC training banner.
IMEC CEO Francesco Gargiulo shared that through She Sails, IMEC will also work to gather meaningful industry data, helping identify what drives successful recruitment, progression and retention of women at sea.
While female cadet recruitment is improving across the industry, progression and retention remain significant challenges. The scheme was developed to incentivize member companies to actively support female cadets beyond recruitment and into long-term seafaring careers. The objective is not simply to recruit more female cadets, but to improve the transition from cadetship to officer ranks and ultimately enhance retention within the industry.
IMEC will share more details to the industry in the coming months, as IMEC aim to officially launch She Sails in the new year in 2027.