The ECSA–ETF WESS project aims to contribute to an Attractive, Smart and Sustainable Working Environment in the EU shipping sector, by supporting the work towards jobs, growth and the sector’s competitiveness.

Image Line Communications will work on an awareness-raising campaign and a research work to identify good practices of measures to enhance the recruitment and retention of women in the industry, including measures to deal with gender policies in the workplace.

“A more gender-balanced EU shipping industry will improve culture, sustainability and productivity. We are proud to be the initiators of such a joint industry effort that will bring more women on board,” said Tim Springett, ECSA Social Affairs Committee Chair and social dialogue spokesperson.

“This is an important work, looking into the barriers facing women in the maritime industry and gender equality. This project is about equal respect, rights and opportunity for everyone,” added Mark Dickinson, ETF Maritime Transport EU Committee Chair and social dialogue spokesperson.

Sue Terpilowski, Managing Director of Image Line Communications, in association with Dr Kate Pike and Julie Lithgow, believes highlighting the current and future roles of women in the shipping sector is one the team could not allow to pass without involvement.

“Kate, Julie and I have been heavily involved in this issue for many years and this tender gives the three of us a real opportunity to demonstrate how important women are in the maritime sector. Our focus is on developing a sustainable working environment in shipping for women as well as creating an awareness of how important they are for the benefit of the whole industry sector.

“Our expertise and knowledge of the shipping world is based on many years working in the maritime industry in communications, logistics, research and operational issues. Winning this tender gives us the opportunity to take these issues to a wider audience and demonstrate the need for greater diversity in this vital global sector. As part of this tender we are actively seeking to connect, network, support and amplify other contacts with interested parties in relation to the development of future initiatives.”

ECSA and the ETF are the Social Partners’ organisations recognised by the EU in representing the interests of employers and employees in the Social Dialogue Committee for the Maritime Transport sector.

For regular updates regarding the WESS project, please visit https://www.ecsa.eu/WESS and https://www.etf-europe.org/activity/wess/.

For more information about the project, please contact directly Image Line Communications team@eumaritimewomen.org or sue@imageline.co.uk and the Project Management Team (Claudia Vella Casagrande (vellacasagrande@ecsa.eu) or Penny Serveta (Serveta@ecsa.eu) or Estelle Brentnall (e.brentnall@etf-europe.org) or Lotte Ockerman (l.ockerman@etf-europe.org).

About ECSA

The European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) was founded in 1965 and represents the national shipowners’ associations of the EU, the UK and Norway. The European shipowners control 39.5% of the global commercial fleet, contribute 149 billion to the EU GDP and provide 2 million Europeans with careers both on board and ashore. ECSA promotes the interests of European shipping so that the industry can best serve European and international trade in a competitive free business environment to the benefit of shippers and consumers.

About ETF

The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) embraces transport trade unions from the European Union, the European Economic Area, and Central and Eastern Europe. The ETF represents more than 5 million transport workers from more than 200 transport unions and 41 European countries.

About Image Line Communications

Sue Terpilowski OBE created Image Line in 1988 and has grown Image Line Communications to be recognised as a leading full service public relations, lobbying, marketing and visual events agency specialising in the maritime, port, supply chain, logistics, materials handling and security sectors.

Sue will oversee overall project coordination as well as taking the lead for the Gender Policies work plan.
Dr Kate Pike will lead the research that will look at measures to enhance recruitment and retention of women in the industry.
ulie Lithgow OBE will lead the awareness raising campaign work path of the attractive career opportunities in shipping both at sea and ashore.