The Maritime Foundation has launched its latest short documentary film – SHESCAPE, looking at the opportunities for women in marine-related occupations.
The film, which premiered at the Maritime Media Awards 2016 was produced by the Foundation’s film production company Maritime Films UK and sponsored by Seafarers UK seeks to highlight the low representation of women seafarers and technical and engineering roles – 2% of 1,250,000 seafarers and below 4% in engineering.
A lack of role models at the top hinders progress towards a more gender equal workplace, but things are changing – the appointment of Michelle Howard to Four Star U.S. Navy Admiral in June 2016 represented a trailblazing accomplishment for women in leadership roles.
In the Royal Navy some 30% of all ships’ crews are now female, with new provision to include billets on submarines.
Speaking at the Navy Women’s Network Conference, October 2016, First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Philip Jones KCB ADC said: “I’m proud to lead a Navy where women serve as divers, submariners, pilots and engineers; are awarded Military Crosses for courage under fire and have risen to command fighting ships and major shore establishments.”
SHESCAPE is available on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThCniUZcYxo) to a worldwide audience and on DVD from the Maritime Foundation aims to serve as a promotional tool that can be used to help the marine industry drive towards a more gender equal working environment.
At the Day of the Seafarer conference in June 2016, IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim said: “The importance of women as a huge source of safer sea voyage human resources cannot be overstressed. The shipping world cannot afford to ignore such a rich and largely untapped source of quality recruit!”
Maritime Films UK’s Rob White, producer of SHESCAPE added: “Filming ‘SHESCAPE’ was really inspiring, to see women in important maritime roles and in command – all clearly enjoying the challenge and winning the respect of colleagues at sea and on land. As we say in the film, they’re proving the sea is in the blood of every Briton – that’s EVERY Briton!”
Notes to editors
The Maritime Foundation:
The Maritime Foundation is a not for profit organisation promoting Britain’s interests across the entire maritime sector. Its purpose is to inform and raise public and parliamentary awareness of the importance of Britain’s maritime industries, commerce and defence through education, training and research, as well as through the Foundation’s annual Maritime Media Awards.
Seafarers UK:
Seafarers UK is a charity that helps people in the maritime community, by providing vital funding to support seafarers in need and their families, by giving money to organisations and projects that make a real difference to people’s lives across the Merchant Navy, Fishing Fleets, Royal Navy and Royal Marines.
Maritime Films UK:
MFUK is a specialist independent film production company for the marine and maritime industries, offering a dedicated service to all across the sector, from ports to ship brokers, shipping lines to maritime charities.