A STUDY ON FEMALE STUDENTS IN MARITIME INSTITUTES OF GUJARAT FOR SEA BASED JOBS

Abstract

The primary mode of transport in world global trade is through Maritime Sector. 90% of global transport is sea based (UNCTAD, 2021). In India 90% of India's trading by volume and 70% by value is done through maritime transport (Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, 2021). Further Gujarat having longest coastline in India contributes 40 % of trade in country through its maritime sector (Ministry of Shipping, 2021). The sector provides huge opportunity of employment to the seafarers across the world and the demand is always increasing (BIMCO, 2021). Although when it comes to gender parity the sector is highly gender imbalanced. Only 1.28% of females are working as seafarers in the world maritime fleet (BIMCO/ICS, 2021) which is highly dominated by males historically. In India the percentage is even lesser than one although Indians are considered as the preferred employees across world maritime fleet (DG Shipping, 2018). This paper aims to explore the supply side of the human resource that is education institutes from where the students joins as seafarers in the mainstream job. A survey through questionnaire conducted in Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) registered Maritime institutes in Gujarat wherein the female students are studying. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive and statistical analysis to understand various mode of entries, awareness, limitations and challenges to female students. The findings from this study will reveal various ground level facts at supply side of maritime sector specific to females in maritime industry and issues leading to high gender imparity in the maritime industry, the finding shall also be helpful to address the problems of less females from Gujarat joining the maritime sector employment