Hapag-Lloyd launches “Shefarer Program” to promote women at sea
- May 22
- 2 min read
Hapag-Lloyd has launched its new “Shefarer Program” aimed at increasing the number of women working in the maritime industry and creating better long-term career opportunities at sea. In cooperation with partners Jebsen PTC, Anglo-Eastern Ship Management and Marlow Navigation, the initiative focuses on attracting more women to maritime careers while supporting their professional development on board vessels.
One of the main goals of the program is to increase female representation among young seafarers. Going forward, at least 20 percent of all new trainee intakes will be female cadets, including within the company’s international crew pipeline and among young Filipino talents. Hapag-Lloyd believes this will help build a stronger and more diverse workforce for the future of shipping.
The company is also introducing selected “Shefarer vessels,” where several women seafarers will work together across different functions and ranks. By deploying multiple women on the same vessel, Hapag-Lloyd aims to create a more inclusive onboard environment where female crew members are seen as a natural part of daily operations rather than exceptions. Women participating in the program will work in various positions including cadets, engineers, officers, captains and technical crew roles.
To further improve working conditions, Hapag-Lloyd is investing in dedicated facilities for women on all upcoming newbuild vessels, including separate changing rooms, showers and toilets. According to the company, mixed crews contribute to better communication, collaboration and mutual respect on board, while also helping increase the visibility of women in the maritime sector.
Currently, women make up 5.71 percent of Hapag-Lloyd’s total crew, while four women captains are actively sailing within the company’s fleet. Through the Shefarer Program, Hapag-Lloyd hopes to make maritime careers more attractive, strengthen diversity across the industry, and encourage more qualified young women to pursue careers at sea.
Image source: hapag.lloyd.com
