International shipping firm Hapag-Lloyd has introduced its new Shefarer Program, which aims to increase female representation across the maritime workforce over the long term. The company has coordinated a series of targeted measures alongside its external industry partners, Jebsen PTC, Anglo-Eastern Ship Management (Germany) GmbH and Marlow Navigation Co. Ltd. The joint scheme focuses on drawing more women into maritime roles and providing structured professional support whilst they serve at sea.
Nurturing junior talent forms a primary component of the initiative. Moving forward, women must make up at least 20 per cent of all new trainee intakes. This recruitment benchmark applies directly to the international crew supply chain, with an explicit emphasis on attracting young maritime talent from the Philippines.
Another core element of the strategy is the introduction of designated Shefarer vessels. These commercial ships will deploy multiple female seafarers together across a variety of onboard departments and hierarchy levels. The operational goal is to ensure female personnel are viewed as an integral part of the crew, rather than exceptions, whilst working as cadets, engineers, officers, oilers or captains.
Hapag-Lloyd is also funding structural changes to its fleet to accommodate these changes. All new container ships scheduled to enter active service over the next few years will be built with separate changing rooms, toilets and showers for women to improve general living and working conditions on board.
Silke Lehmköster, Managing Director Fleet at Hapag-Lloyd, stated: “With the Shefarer Program, we are creating concrete structures to help more women enter the maritime industry and build long-term careers at sea. Mixed crews strengthen communication, collaboration and mutual respect on board. Our goal is to increase the visibility of women at sea and to create more career opportunities for them across our fleet.”
Internal company figures show that female workers currently account for 5.71 per cent of the total seafaring crew at Hapag-Lloyd. The firm also employs four female captains, representing 4.6 per cent of its overall captain positions. This new diversity drive is part of a broader corporate plan to improve the appeal of seafaring careers.
