Women leaders from the maritime sector in South East Asia have successfully completed an intensive IMO training course on green shipping technologies and digitalization.
Eighteen trainees, including 5 executive-level and 13 management-level maritime officials, took part in the 10-day programme, held in the margins of the 2024 Korea Maritime Week.
The training was organized by IMO in collaboration with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea, as part of the SMART-C Women Project.
IMO's SMART-C Women Project, funded by the Republic of Korea, aims to advance gender equality by enhancing skills and employment opportunities for female maritime professionals in developing countries, with a focus on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Pacific regions.
Ms. Yeongjoo Baek, Project Manager of the SMART-C Women Project said: "This experience will significantly contribute to the growth of these key women leaders in the maritime industry. We have already received overwhelmingly positive feedback from all participants from ASEAN region. Next year, we aim to conduct both online and in-person training for five beneficiary countries in the Pacific."
The Busan training covered a range of topics, including gender-specific areas such as women's leadership, work-life balance, personal branding and networking, as well as technical issues such IMO's 2023 Strategy on the Reduction of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions from Ships, regulatory frameworks and maritime digitalization, including the Maritime Single Window (MSW).
Trainees engaged in practical field visits to the Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology (KIMFT), the Korean Register (KR), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries - a global leader in shipbuilding and eco-friendly technology - and the Busan Port Authority, to view port operations and management in the North Port.
Finally, the women attended the 2024 Korea Maritime Week and the 4th Women in Maritime Association (WIMA) Asia Regional Conference, where they engaged in discussions around decarbonization and digitalization, and networked with industry leaders and innovators working to advance sustainable maritime transport.
