Women maritime professionals from the Pacific region have completed their first training session under the IMO-Republic of Korea SMART-C Women Project.  

The Project aims to advance gender diversity in the Asia-Pacific maritime sector by providing specialized training for selected women, targeting ASEAN countries and Pacific small island developing states (SIDS). 

The first session for this year’s programme (3-7 March) took place online, boosting the technical and leadership skills of 19 maritime professionals from Fiji, the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Vanuatu, in the areas of decarbonization, digitalization and gender. 

This will lead into the next training session (17 - 21 March), aimed at deepening participants’ knowledge and competencies, while building strong regional networks. 

Selected trainees from the online programme will have the opportunity to attend an on-site training session in the Republic of Korea, where they will gain hands-on experience and further develop practical skills that can be applied in their home countries. 

About the SMART-C Women Project 

The IMO-Republic of Korea SMART-C Women Project offers tailored training programmes for women from developing countries in Asia and the Pacific, enabling them to expand their career and leadership opportunities.  

The training focuses on three areas: Decarbonization, Digitalization and Gender, exploring topics such as alternative energy solutions for shipping, IMO’s Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships, maritime digitalization (including the Maritime Single Window, cybersecurity) and digital transformation in Pacific SIDS. It covers cultural awareness around gender, unconscious bias and advancing women’s leadership within the sector. 

The Project is structured around four key pillars:  

  • Online and on-site training to develop professional competencies; 
  • Fully funded fellowships for selected participants to study at WMU or the International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI); 
  • Global networking initiatives to facilitate international collaboration and knowledge-sharing; 
  • Pilot consultancy projects supporting the development of national master plans for women’s empowerment in the maritime sector.