Human sustainability projects
Completed work
Since its establishment in 2022, the Global Maritime Forum's human sustainability programme has carried out a number of collaborative industry efforts. Below is an overview of some of our previous initiatives and what they accomplished.
Diversity@Sea
The Diversity@Sea workstream was created to address the talent shortage and unsafe working conditions in the maritime industry. The workstream's primary output was a pilot project that co-designed real-world solutions on 12 different vessels. Drawing on the lived experiences of seafarers, the pilot explored how more inclusive working environments can lead to better working conditions at sea and make seafaring a more attractive career option.
Sustainable Crewing Guidelines
Stemming from the Diversity@Sea pilot, the Sustainable Crewing Guidelines are a set of nine practical, research-backed recommendations to improve outcomes for all workers in the maritime industry. The guidelines serve as a roadmap for shipping companies striving to improve employee well-being while helping seafarers and other stakeholders identify companies that take sustainability and social responsibility seriously.
Diversifying Maritime Leadership
Maritime leadership teams are often more homogenous than the diverse organisations they lead and the global markets they serve. This workstream explored systemic barriers and enabling factors that often shape who succeeds in leadership roles across the maritime industry—and who doesn't.
Pregnancy at sea
This workstream explored how pregnancy and parenthood impact seafarers’ careers and retention. Building off the lived experiences of real seafarers, this work culminated in a report that brought visibility to an issue that has long remained largely hidden in maritime workforce discussions.
Future Maritime Leaders Network
The Future Maritime Leaders started as an essay competition and ended as a network of young professionals in the maritime industry. Members helped give the next generation a voice in identifying key issues to be addressed by today’s industry leaders.
Learn more about the Future Maritime Leaders Network.
15 key pain points for women at sea
Interviews with 115 female seafarers helped identify the biggest challenges women face at sea. The resulting report led to the co-design of potential solutions, which were then trialled as part of the Diversity@Sea pilot.
Neptune Declaration
Signed by more than 850 organisations, the Neptune Declaration on Seafarer Well-being and Crew Change was developed in response to thousands of seafarers being stranded on ships during the COVID-19 pandemic. It called for giving seafarers priority access to vaccines, establishing health protocols, facilitating crew changes, and ensuring air connectivity between key maritime hubs and seafarers.
Susanne leads the human sustainability programme, setting out to develop impactful and ambitious global standards for the safety, health, inclusion, and well-being of everyone impacted by maritime supply chains.
Harpa is at the forefront of projects like Diversity@Sea and Diversifying Maritime Leadership, as well as other initiatives that focus on improving the safety and well-being of seafarers, specifically concerning contracts, wages, and family support.
Christian manages the All Aboard Alliance and the Future Maritime Leaders Network.
Zoë is a data analyst on the human sustainability team, transforming both quantitative and qualitative data into clear, actionable insights that drive understanding and impact.
Hana manages the Unspoken project, addressing sexual misconduct at sea, and supports other human sustainability initiatives. She helped shape the All Aboard Alliance 2030 strategy and led research on Pregnancy at Sea.