Gender allyship at sea campaign launched by ISWAN

Seafarer welfare charity ISWAN has launched a programme designed to support female crew members facing abuse and mental health challenges.

The seafarer-led campaign, Safe at sea…it takes all of us! from the International Seafarers' Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) highlights the role of allyship, in particular the role men can play, in creating safe and inclusive environments on board for female colleagues.

In 2023, women were more than three times as likely to contact ISWAN's helplines about an issue of abuse, bullying, harassment, discrimination and violence than men. They were also more than twice as likely to raise a mental health issue.

ISWAN's projects and relationships manager and campaign lead Georgia Allen said: 'Although there is a significant focus across maritime to encourage more women seafarers to enter the workforce - which is really positive - as a welfare organisation we also want to highlight the sector's responsibility for ensuring the environments they are being invited into are safe and that they will be treated equitably.'

ISWAN, with support from co-funders The Seafarers' Charity and UK P&I Club, will be rolling out the campaign online, at sea and ashore in industry hubs around the world over the coming months. The campaign can be followed on social media using the hashtags #CrewAllySHIP and #WeAllBelong.

Lived experiences

Behind the scenes, ISWAN has spoken with seafarers and maritime stakeholders around the world and from across the shipping, cruise and superyacht industries to build the campaign and capture seafarers' lived experiences.

Many women seafarers also shared the challenges that they had faced at sea and the impact it has had on their health and wellbeing:

'I would try to hide my gender, to wear men's clothes and avoid clothes that were too fitted on my body. That was my way of trying to avoid abuse and unwanted attention.'

'I have faced racism, misogyny, harassment, and threats more times than I can count, from both superiors and colleagues. While I often managed to counteract these behaviours, it was exhausting and soul-draining to always remain vigilant and alert when my primary focus should have been on my work.'

Practical advice for allies

The campaign also gives practical examples from the women of what men seafarers can do to make life at sea safer for all:

'A first officer I worked with built trust by being observant and curious. He created a safe environment for the female crew to talk to him about any onboard issues.'

ISWAN will also soon release two resources (one for seafarers and one for maritime sector stakeholders) containing information and guidance on how to build a safe and inclusive culture at sea.

The International Transport Workers' Federation is also supporting a similar Canadian Be More Than a Bystander programme which offers union members specific practical advice on how to be a good ally. 

Member support

Nautilus members experiencing difficulties in the workplace such as bullying and harassment are reminded they can get support from with their Union by contacting their industrial representative. They also have access to Nautilus 24/7, a service that helps Nautilus members in emergencies around the clock.

Members can access assistance via the Nautilus 24/7 service by:

• send an SMS text message to+44 (0)7860 017 119 and we'll get back to you

• email helpline@nautilus247.org

• Skype (username nautilus-247)

• Encourage seafaring colleagues to join Nautilus and be part of a strong bargaining unit to ensure strong pay and conditions

Image: Nautilus Council member Jessica Tyson at the 2023 General Meeting, presenting what is now a resolution commiting the Union to supporting the yacht sector.

More support: yacht hub More support: cadet hub

Tackling racism onboard

In a multicultural crew setting, it is important to spot and address racism of any kind, whether overt or 'low-level'. After all, the alternative is conflict between colleagues and often the loss of experienced workers who have had enough of this form of discrimination.

Many workplaces around the world are now trying to be more conscious of the effect of 'micro aggressions' – those subtle intentional or unintentional insults towards a certain cultural group which can build up to create significant distress.

How to tackle this behaviour in the maritime workplace was addressed during the Ethnicity in Maritime roundtable held during London International Shipping Week 2021.

Examples of micro-aggressions

Micro-aggressions can be physical, such as inappropriately touching hair in braids or afro styles. They can also include words that make the colleague feel 'foreign' or not belonging, such as saying 'Yes, but where are you really from?'

What can I do to help?

• Learn about verbal and non-verbal micro-aggressions as part of company training on unconscious bias
• Ask what systems, policies and open conversations a company has that shows it is anti-racist
• Enlist allies – it is not just the problem of a particular group
• Don't give up on conversations about race just because people may feel uncomfortable

Watch the Roundtable session