Psychosocial Challenges Onboard
1. Discrimination and Bias
Gender and nationality bias remain persistent problems across the sector. A Global Maritime Forum survey on employability in maritime found that 29% of women identified gender bias as a major barrier to employment, compared with just 0.4% of men. Many women report having to work harder than male colleagues to earn the same level of respect or advancement, and are often steered toward less technical responsibilities.
2. Harassment and Safety
Sexual harassment and bullying remain among the most serious risks women face at sea. Amendments to the STCW Code, which came into effect in January 2026, now require mandatory training on the prevention of violence and harassment, including sexual assault. While this marks important progress, underreporting remains common, with many women reluctant to speak up for fear of retaliation or damage to their careers.
3. Isolation and Lack of Support
For many women, being the only female crew member onboard creates a sense of isolation that can take a serious emotional toll. Gossip, exclusion, and misuse of authority can intensify stress, while the lack of mentorship and peer support leaves many feeling exposed and unsupported. Regional networks such as the IMO’s Women in Maritime Associations (WIMAs) are helping to address this gap through community-building and professional development.
4. Family Separation and Maternity
Long contracts and limited maternity protections continue to force many women into an unfair choice between career progression and family life. Flexible sea-shore rotation policies remain rare, and childcare responsibilities still present a major retention challenge for women across the industry.
Medical and Physical Health Considerations
1. Insights from Maritime Medical Cases
Operational medical data offers useful insight into the evolving healthcare needs of women at sea. In 2025, nearly 3% of cases opened by MedSea, a large private telemedicine assistance service under International SOS, involved women. This marked an increase of more than one-third compared with previous years and reflects the industry’s gradual expansion of female participation in seafaring roles.
Case analysis shows a higher proportion of urological and gynaecological presentations among women than among men. By contrast, only 6% of female cases were linked to musculoskeletal conditions, compared with 15% among male seafarers. Other common issues, including dental conditions and injuries, appeared at broadly similar rates across both groups.
The data also points to encouraging operational outcomes. Women’s cases were less likely to require referral ashore, and repatriation rates were half those seen in male seafarers, suggesting that many conditions could be managed effectively onboard or through telemedical support.
2. Facilities and Hygiene
Many vessels still lack dedicated accommodation, bathrooms, and changing spaces for women. Access to sanitary products can be inconsistent, and ill-fitting personal protective equipment increases the risk of injury. Amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention in 2022 requiring properly fitting PPE for all genders were an important step forward, but implementation remains critical.
3. Reproductive and Sexual Health
Limited privacy and inconsistent medical support can make menstrual health, contraception, and broader reproductive care difficult to manage at sea. In urgent situations, telemedical providers must be equipped to respond to gynaecological concerns, pregnancy complications, and sexual assault with both clinical competence and sensitivity. Access to appropriate follow-up care remains essential.
4. Mental Health
Isolation, harassment, and underrepresentation can all contribute to stress, anxiety, and depression among women seafarers. In response, more companies are being encouraged to strengthen psychological support through confidential reporting systems, peer-support initiatives, and telemedical access to mental health professionals.
Toward a More Inclusive Future
There are signs of progress. The partnership between IMO and WISTA, pilot programmes led by the All Aboard Alliance, and ICS/ITF guidance on eliminating shipboard harassment are all helping to shift maritime culture in the right direction. But meaningful, lasting change will depend on sustained commitment in several key areas:
- gender-sensitive medical protocols within maritime telehealth services
- mandatory anti-harassment training backed by effective enforcement
- improved onboard infrastructure that protects privacy, dignity, and hygiene
- clearer career development, sponsorship, and mentorship pathways for women officers
- more flexible employment policies that better support maternity and family responsibilities
Conclusion
The medical and psychosocial challenges facing women at sea are deeply connected to wider structural inequalities across the maritime industry. Although progress is being made, major obstacles remain.
Addressing these issues is not simply a matter of fairness. It is essential to operational safety, crew wellbeing, and the long-term sustainability of the maritime workforce. As maritime medicine and workforce policy continue to evolve, the industry must ensure that gender-specific health needs, robust psychosocial support, and inclusive workplace practices are treated not as optional extras, but as standard.
Only then will shipping stop making women feel like guests at sea.
