Rewriting Women in Maritime History Initiative Goes Global

• Rewriting Women into Maritime History initiative, backed by Lloyd's Register, goes global.
• Launched in the UK and Ireland in 2023
• The program highlights women’s crucial role in the maritime sector.

The Rewriting Women into Maritime History initiative, backed by Lloyd’s Register, aims to highlight the vital role of women in maritime. Launched in 2023 in the UK and Ireland, it uses archival materials and oral histories to tell their stories.

 The SHE_SEES exhibition, which debuted at the IMO during London International Shipping Week 2023, is now touring, with a residency at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard until August 2025.

The initiative aims to highlight the expertise, experience, and leadership of women in the maritime sector.  The initiative will begin this global expansion in 2025, starting with Greece, the Netherlands, and India. The program redefines the narrative of a traditionally male-dominated industry and encourages more people to pursue maritime careers.

According to IMO figures, women make up 29% of the industry workforce, with only 2% of seafarers in crewing roles. The SHE_SEES exhibition is expanding internationally to showcase women's contributions to maritime in nine additional countries over the next three years.

The SHE_SEES initiative includes a contemporary component led by portrait photographer Emilie Sandy, encouraging women to share their stories through the participatory photography element, SHE_SEES HER VOICE. This initiative empowers women in the maritime sector to connect, share their own experiences, and shape their narratives.

Dr. Jo Stanley, a maritime historian, emphasized that women have contributed to maritime life for centuries in various roles, but their contributions were often overlooked.

 Dr. Stanley highlighted that women’s progress in the maritime industry has been significant since the 1970s.

A new film, Women in Shipbuilding, produced with Historic England, uncovers the history of women in UK shipbuilding and is part of the initiative.