Let’s celebrate the role of women in the maritime sector!
Let’s celebrate the role of women in the maritime sector!
The ENSM wishes to honor women on this International Maritime Women’s Day, established by the International Maritime Organization.
Through its strategy and its Objectives and Performance Agreement, the School is committed to promoting inclusivity and combating all forms of misconduct.
“Setting the Standard” also means raising awareness and giving greater visibility to women in the maritime sector for future generations.
In 2025, women accounted for 15.2% of students trained at ENSM, including 16.6% in Initial Training and, more specifically, 23.8% in the Deck Department. This proportion is growing every year, and the School must support, strengthen, and encourage it. ENSM is committed to this and aims to expand this role. It was essential to highlight this on May 15, a day promoted by the IMO.
“For me, this day is an opportunity to give greater visibility to exciting professions and to inspire vocations: for women, but also for men who, aboard ships and eventually on shore, will be called upon to work hand in hand as a crew.”
– Caroline Lallement Jones, ENSM graduate and Maintenance Project Manager and Head of Methods at Terminaux de Normandie
Whether they are professors, flight attendants, students, staff members, or partners of ENSM, they share their passion for this unique profession and talk about their experiences in this field.
“This event is the perfect opportunity to highlight the women who have ventured into this field.
It showcases a variety of life journeys—both professional and personal—as well as all that they have achieved.
This event can encourage young women to choose this still very male-dominated field and show them that anyone can succeed with motivation and passion.
The Merchant Marine is an exciting, extraordinary, and extremely rewarding career path, both personally and professionally.”
“If a career in the Merchant Marine is what you want, then go for it!
Whether you’re a student or looking to change careers, you belong here with us.
The school is like a big family where everyone finds their place, no matter their background. On board, too, attitudes have really changed: you have to know how to stand up for yourself and never let unconstructive comments from some people get to you, but the crew is always there to support us and make sure we have a good time on board.
In this profession, there’s no room for differences: whether male or female, we’re sailors, and we all have our place on board.”
“A woman in the merchant marine is a professional just like any other. She comes on board with solid training, skills, and all the strengths and weaknesses that make up her personality. She joins a team where she finds her own place, just like everyone else.
My personal experience quickly helped me realize that my own stance on this issue was key: since I’m convinced I belong here, those who might have had second thoughts upon seeing me arrive don’t dwell on it for very long either. Moreover, everyday reality quickly takes over: we wear a uniform or work clothes and are there to carry out a mission, just like any other colleague.
I would like to thank all my male colleagues who do not question the validity of my career but who, by treating me without distinction, contribute quietly yet powerfully to supporting the professional growth of women in a male-dominated environment—fairly and, ultimately, as a matter of course.”
“Being a sailor is a demanding and technical profession, but it’s also exciting and full of new experiences.
Being a woman in the merchant marine isn’t always easy, but today we have our place there.
So if this is what you want, don’t hesitate. Don’t doubt your abilities and believe in yourself: with passion and determination, you have a place on board.”
“To me, a woman in the Merchant Marine is, above all, a fully-fledged professional who brings her skills, discipline, and vision to a demanding environment.
More broadly, I think it’s important for women to be present in this sector, because it shows that maritime careers are open to all motivated and competent individuals.
And I’m proud to be part of it and to contribute, in my own small way, to advancing this field.”
“I believe that being a good sailor isn’t about gender, but rather about determination, passion, and hard work.
We tend to refer to the merchant marine as a “man’s world” out of habit. For me, it isn’t a “man’s world” but rather a field composed mainly of men, which makes all the difference. Women belong at sea just as much as our male colleagues.
Progress is underway in this profession, and every woman contributes to changing attitudes.
Furthermore, companies and ships are increasingly establishing clear guidelines that allow women to thrive at work in a healthy environment.”
“Women clearly have a rightful place in the Merchant Marine, both ashore and at sea, in every profession. And, in my view, the question of our place shouldn’t even come up anymore today. If it still exists, it’s surely because attitudes are changing… but slowly, and because certain stereotypes persist.
It’s not about pitting different work styles against each other, nor debating who does or doesn’t belong in this field and where they fit in, but rather about complementing one another. A team’s strength comes from its diversity: everyone brings their own way of seeing, deciding, and acting.
Women can sometimes bring a different sensibility, one more focused on listening, team cohesion, and the human aspect—though this is by no means a universal truth, of course.
Ultimately, it’s not a question of gender, but of balance: bringing together different perspectives, experiences, and ways of working is what allows us to build strong, effective… and above all, human teams.”
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There are no men or women in the Merchant Marine—only sailors.
International Women’s Day in the maritime sector provides an opportunity to highlight passionate female sailors, to show that maritime professions are becoming more diverse, and to prove that women have a place in this field.”