The IMO-Republic of Korea SMART-C Women Project is empowering women across the Asia-Pacific maritime sector through specialized online training - opening pathways to broader career opportunities and fostering a more balanced and diverse workforce.
In the largest cohort to date, 40 female maritime professionals from Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste & Viet Nam took part in the 2026 sessions (2-6 and 16-20 March). The training was run with specialist consultants and maritime experts from the World Maritime University (WMU) and focused on enhancing professional competencies and leadership skills and reinforcing efforts to promote a more inclusive and equitable maritime industry.
Speaking at the opening session, Ms Louise Proctor, IMO Thematic Lead on Gender Equality in Maritime, said: "Through the SMART-C Women Project, we aim to enhance women's participation and leadership in a sector undergoing rapid transformation, particularly in the areas of digitalization and decarbonization." The session featured Ms Rubina Badoy of the Philippines, an alumna of the 2024 SMART-C Women cohort and the first recipient of a WMU scholarship under the programme. Ms Badoy outlined how the project had positively shaped her professional journey, inspiring this year's participants as they embarked on their training.
The training modules are structured around three core themes: Decarbonization, Digitalization and Gender Empowerment. They covered key topics including alternative energy solutions for the shipping industry, the IMO's greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction strategies, and key aspects of maritime digitalization, with particular attention to the Maritime Single Window, cybersecurity, and broader digital transformation initiatives.
The programme addressed gender-related challenges within the maritime sector, including cultural awareness, unconscious bias, and practical strategies to advance women's leadership and participation.
Selected trainees from the online programme will be invited to attend an in-person training session in the Republic of Korea in October, where they will gain hands-on experience and further enhance the skills necessary for application within their home countries.
The SMART-C Women Project continues to provide a vital platform for women maritime professionals across Asia and the Pacific to enhance their competencies and advance their careers across the sector, through training, education, global networking, and the development of national master plans for women's empowerment in selected pilot countries.
