Ashish Mishra, Jigna Trivedi
The primary mode of
transport in world global trade is through Maritime Sector. 90% of global
transport is sea based (UNCTAD, 2021). In India 90% of India's trading by
volume and 70% by value is done through maritime transport (Ministry of Ports,
Shipping and Waterways, 2021). Further Gujarat having longest coastline in
India contributes 40 % of trade in country through its maritime sector
(Ministry of Shipping, 2021). The sector provides huge opportunity of
employment to the seafarers across the world and the demand is always
increasing (BIMCO, 2021). Although when it comes to gender parity the sector is
highly gender imbalanced. Only 1.28% of females are working as seafarers in the
world maritime fleet (BIMCO/ICS, 2021) which is highly dominated by males historically.
In India the percentage is even lesser than one although Indians are considered
as the preferred employees across world maritime fleet (DG Shipping, 2018).
This paper aims to explore the supply side of the human resource that is
education institutes from where the students joins as seafarers in the
mainstream job. A survey through questionnaire conducted in Directorate General
of Shipping (DGS) registered Maritime institutes in Gujarat wherein the female
students are studying. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive and
statistical analysis to understand various mode of entries, awareness,
limitations and challenges to female students. The findings from this study
will reveal various ground level facts at supply side of maritime sector
specific to females in maritime industry and issues leading to high gender imparity
in the maritime industry, the finding shall also be helpful to address the
problems of less females from Gujarat joining the maritime sector employment.
India, Gujarat, Female,
Employment, Maritime Sector, Institute, Students
VOL.13, ISSUE No.4, December 2021