The United Nations recognizes every last Thursday of September as World Maritime Day and, for 2019, they will be celebrating with the theme, “Empowering women in the maritime community.”
The observance recognizes shipping as “the most efficient and cost-effective method of international transportation for most goods”
“Women represent only two percent of the world’s 1.2 million seafarers and 94 percent of female seafarers are working in the cruise industry,” the UN said on their website. “[The  International Maritime Organization] believes that empowering women fuels thriving economies, spurs productivity and growth, and benefits every stakeholder in the global maritime community.”
According to an article earlier this month in the BusinessMirror, the Philippines currently provides over 30 percent of the world’s seafarer requirement. In addition, Maritime Industry Authority Administrator Narciso A. Vingson, Jr. said 100,000 more Filipinos may be deployed as seafarers over the next five years./WDJ