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Hapag-Lloyd has launched a new initiative aimed at increasing women’s participation in maritime careers, marking a significant step toward improving gender diversity in the global shipping industry. The company’s newly introduced “Shefarer Program” seeks to create long-term career opportunities for women at sea while strengthening inclusion across onboard operations.
Developed in collaboration with crewing and maritime training partners Jebsen PTC, Anglo-Eastern Ship Management (Germany) GmbH, and Marlow Navigation Co. Ltd, the program introduces a series of measures designed to attract more women into seafaring professions and support their professional growth onboard vessels.
A key pillar of the initiative is talent development. Hapag-Lloyd said that at least 20 percent of all future trainee intakes will consist of female cadets. The target will also extend to the company’s international recruitment pipeline, particularly among young maritime professionals from the Philippines, one of the world’s largest seafarer talent pools.
The company is also introducing designated “Shefarer vessels,” where multiple women seafarers will serve together across various functions and ranks, including cadets, engineers, officers, oilers and captains. The objective is to normalize female representation onboard and create a more inclusive work culture where women are viewed as an integral part of ship operations rather than exceptions.
To improve onboard living and working conditions, Hapag-Lloyd will invest in dedicated facilities for women across all upcoming newbuild vessels entering service in the coming years. These enhancements include separate changing rooms, showers and sanitary areas aimed at supporting a safer and more comfortable environment for female crew members.
Commenting on the initiative, Silke Lehmköster, Managing Director Fleet at Hapag-Lloyd, said mixed crews contribute to stronger collaboration, communication and mutual respect onboard. She added that the company aims to increase the visibility of women in maritime careers while creating sustainable pathways for professional advancement at sea.
Women currently account for 5.71 percent of Hapag-Lloyd’s global crew, while four female captains are actively serving across the company’s fleet. The Shefarer Program forms part of the carrier’s broader strategy to make maritime professions more attractive to future talent and address workforce diversity challenges in the shipping sector.
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Batangas Integrated Port (BIP) has become the world's first port to receive the READY Port designation, marking the launch of a global framework designed to strengthen disaster preparedness and ensure the continuity of humanitarian and commercial logistics during emergencies. The recognition follows a three-day multi-agency preparedness programme conducted at the port in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP) Philippines. The initiative brought together government agencies, humanitarian organisations, logistics providers and private-sector stakeholders to assess emergency response capabilities, review operational procedures and conduct crisis simulation exercises. READY—short for Resilience, Emergency Action and Disaster-ready—is a capacity-building programme backed by the UN Logistics Cluster. The framework aims to improve the resilience of critical port infrastructure and maintain the flow of humanitarian aid and essential cargo during natural disasters and other emergencies. The Philippines was selected as the pilot location because of its high exposure to climate-related hazards and natural disasters. Batangas Integrated Port, operated by Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI), DP World's local partner, serves as a key gateway for international and domestic cargo, roll-on/roll-off traffic and passenger services, with connections across the Visayas and Mindanao regions. The port's strategic role makes it an important logistics hub for both commercial supply chains and emergency relief operations. The workshop concluded with the development of a Port Readiness Action Plan, which will guide future resilience-building measures and provide a model for implementing similar disaster preparedness programmes at other ports in the Philippines and internationally. The READY Port framework is expected to strengthen coordination between port operators, government agencies, humanitarian organisations and logistics companies, helping ensure ports remain operational during crises while prioritising the movement of emergency relief cargo. Industry stakeholders view the initiative as a scalable approach to improving supply chain resilience in disaster-prone coastal regions worldwide. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates.
India has advised shipping companies and maritime recruitment agencies to restrict the deployment of Indian seafarers to conflict-affected areas in the Gulf region, following a series of security incidents involving merchant vessels operating near the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman. The Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping) issued the advisory amid growing concerns over the safety of Indian crew members after recent attacks on commercial vessels in the region. The directive asks Recruitment and Placement Service Licence (RPSL) holders and shipping companies to avoid sending Indian seafarers to conflict zones until further notice. The move follows several maritime incidents in Gulf waters, including attacks on vessels carrying Indian crew members. The issue gained urgency after three Indian seafarers lost their lives aboard the tanker MT Settebello during a strike off the coast of Oman earlier this month. The incident has intensified concerns over the risks faced by merchant shipping operating in one of the world's most strategically important trade corridors. In its advisory, DG Shipping instructed vessel masters, ship managers and operators transiting through the Gulf region to maintain heightened security awareness, closely monitor navigational warnings, and implement all prescribed ship security procedures. The regulator said recent incidents involving commercial vessels have highlighted the increasing operational risks in the area. Indian authorities are closely monitoring developments in coordination with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian Navy and Indian missions abroad. The government has also placed relevant agencies on high alert to ensure timely assistance and support for Indian seafarers working in the region. The Gulf region remains a critical route for global energy and container trade, with the Strait of Hormuz handling a significant share of international oil shipments. Any disruption to vessel movements in the area has implications for shipping operations, crew safety and global supply chains. As geopolitical tensions continue to affect maritime security, shipping companies are expected to review crew deployment and risk-management strategies for voyages through the region. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates.
Andhra Pradesh is seeking a larger role in future global shipping networks by positioning its ports and logistics infrastructure to benefit from emerging Arctic maritime routes and evolving international trade corridors, according to state IT and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh. Speaking at an international forum in Russia, Lokesh said shifts in global trade patterns, coupled with the gradual development of Arctic shipping lanes, could reshape cargo flows between Asia, Europe and North America over the coming decades. He said Andhra Pradesh intends to leverage its coastline, port infrastructure and industrial corridors to become an important node in these changing trade networks. The minister highlighted the state's strategic location on India's eastern seaboard, its deep-water ports and ongoing investments in logistics and industrial infrastructure. According to him, these assets place Andhra Pradesh in a favourable position to support international trade as supply chains diversify and new maritime routes gain commercial relevance. Arctic shipping routes have attracted increasing attention from governments and industry stakeholders because they can significantly reduce transit times between parts of Asia and Europe compared with traditional routes through the Suez Canal. While commercial adoption remains limited due to seasonal, environmental and geopolitical factors, logistics experts view the Arctic as a potential long-term supplement to existing global shipping corridors. Lokesh noted that Andhra Pradesh is pursuing a broader strategy centred on port-led industrialisation, logistics parks, multimodal connectivity and manufacturing growth. The state has been expanding its maritime infrastructure while promoting investments in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, technology, energy and export-oriented industries. The government is also strengthening links between ports, industrial clusters and transport networks to reduce logistics costs and improve cargo movement efficiency. These initiatives form part of Andhra Pradesh's ambition to establish itself as a major gateway for international trade and supply chain activities on India's east coast. Industry observers note that the growing focus on alternative trade corridors comes at a time when companies are reassessing supply chain resilience following disruptions caused by geopolitical tensions, climate-related events and congestion at key maritime chokepoints. As a result, governments and logistics providers are exploring additional routes and infrastructure investments to diversify global trade networks. For Andhra Pradesh, participation in emerging trade corridors could strengthen cargo volumes, attract industrial investment and reinforce the state's position as a logistics hub serving both domestic and international markets. If global shipping patterns continue to evolve, ports along India's eastern coast could play a more prominent role in connecting Asian production centres with markets across Europe and beyond. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates.
