Topic
Women in Shipping.
Shipping moves around 90% of world trade. It's one of the oldest industries on the planet and also one of the least visible - most people couldn't name a single shipping company, let alone a woman working in the sector. That's a problem worth fixing. The women in this directory operate vessels, broker cargo, run ports and terminals, lead carriers and freight forwarders, build maritime technology, work in marine insurance and shipping law, and shape international maritime policy. The pillar is UK-rooted - the UK has one of the most significant maritime services clusters in the world - and globally connected, because shipping is global by definition. Use it to find women working across shipping and maritime today for hiring, speaking, media or peer connection.
Women in shipping across the UK
The UK is a major maritime nation - the Port of London, Felixstowe, Southampton, Liverpool and Aberdeen all sit at the centre of significant trade flows, and London remains a global hub for shipbroking, marine insurance, maritime law and shipping finance. The women below are working across UK maritime today - at ports and terminals, in carrier operations, freight forwarding, shipbroking, marine insurance and maritime policy.
Women in shipping worldwide
Shipping is a global industry. Meet women working across the major hubs - from Singapore, Rotterdam and Hamburg to New York, Dubai and beyond - in vessel operations, freight forwarding, carrier leadership, marine engineering and maritime technology.
Why visibility in shipping matters
Shipping has some of the lowest female representation of any major industry. Globally, women are around 2% of seafarers and a small minority across most commercial maritime roles, though representation is higher on the shore side - broking, insurance, legal, port management and carrier head office functions. The industry is under pressure to decarbonise, digitise and rebuild trust after a difficult few years, and it can't do that with the talent pool it currently draws from. Making the women already working in shipping easier to find is part of how the industry shows itself, and the next generation of women considering maritime careers, that the seats exist and are worth competing for.
Hire, book, nominate or join
Looking for a woman in shipping to hire, book to speak, or feature in maritime media? Use the directory above. Know a woman in shipping who deserves to be more visible? Nominate her. Working in shipping yourself? Add your profile - the more complete the maritime side of this directory gets, the more useful it becomes for the whole sector.
Groups & networks
Women in Transport
Twenty-year-old not-for-profit membership network advancing women across every transport mode, with a well-established mentoring programme and an active events calendar.
UK & Ireland · Empowerment, equity and advocacy in transport
WISTA UK
The UK arm of WISTA International, supporting women at management level across maritime, trading and logistics with events, speakers and connections.
UK & Ireland · Women in maritime, trading and logistics
Females in Freight
A friendly UK community connecting women working across freight forwarding, haulage and logistics operations through meet-ups and online conversation.
UK & Ireland · Community for women across freight
everywoman in Transport & Logistics
Long-running development platform with online learning, an annual Transport & Logistics Awards programme and forums celebrating women in the industry.
UK & Ireland · Development and recognition for women in the sector
Frequently asked
What roles do women hold in shipping?+
Across the board - seafarers and captains at sea, plus port and terminal operators, freight forwarders, shipbrokers, carrier executives, marine engineers, maritime lawyers, marine insurers, shipping finance professionals and maritime policy leaders ashore. The shore side of the industry is where most of the women in shipping work, and it's where the directory is strongest.
What share of seafarers are women?+
Globally, women are around 2% of seafarers according to BIMCO and ICS data - one of the lowest gender ratios of any global workforce. Representation is significantly higher on the commercial and shore side of the industry, particularly in broking, legal, insurance and port management roles.
Where is the UK shipping industry concentrated?+
London remains a global hub for shipbroking, marine insurance, maritime law and shipping finance. The major UK ports - Felixstowe, Southampton, London Gateway, Liverpool, Immingham and Aberdeen - handle most of the country's freight, and Glasgow, Newcastle and the South West have significant maritime services and offshore activity.
How do I find a woman to speak on maritime topics?+
Use the directory above, filtered by 'shipping' or 'maritime' specialism, and check whether each profile indicates speaking availability. Many of the women listed regularly speak at industry events and contribute to trade press.
Are international women in shipping listed too?+
Yes. Shipping is global and so is this directory - the 'worldwide' section above is the starting point for finding women working in maritime outside the UK.