The International Women Seafarers Foundation is a Section 8 Company, a not-for-profit organization. The organization was founded in 2017 by three pioneering women seafarers of India: Capt. Radhika Menon, Ch. Engineer Suneeti Bala, and Ms. Sharvani Mishra. As the name suggests, IWSF works for the benefit of the women seafaring community around the world to bring about gender equality in the maritime profession. We currently have over 800 women seafarer members from India, Bangladesh, Turkey, Brazil and Oman and we are expanding with each passing day.

In order to achieve this prime goal, IWSF partners with administrators, maritime unions, ship owners, ship managers, and several maritime representative bodies to provide training, education, guidance, mentoring, policy, and execution support at various levels. Further, IWSF also conducts surveys and research to understand the effectiveness of current policies in providing a gender-neutral environment on board.

Women face numerous social challenges in their pursuit of a sailing career. Young girls, more often than not, when faced with unusual circumstances, are unable to take the right steps at the right time, leading to complications for peers and companies employing them. IWSF members strive every day to support all ladies who have chosen this challenging profession.

In its quest for promoting and supporting women seafarers, the IWSF has achieved the following milestones in its 6 years of existence:

• Employed over 60 women seafarers and continuously seeks to improve the employment of women seafarers, both on-board and ashore. We are a single point of contact for ship managers and shipping companies seeking to create equal opportunities by hiring women seafarers/shore personnel.
• Mentored, supported, guided, and provided assistance in fighting against sexual harassment cases to over 25 women seafarers. We are committed to maintaining the privacy of the companies and women seafarers in serious sexual harassment cases.
• Successfully conducted Maritime Awareness campaigns (with particular attention to raising awareness about the presence of women in the merchant navy) in close to 30 schools/underprivileged institutions/shelter homes/orphanages, reaching over 2000 students. We have also partnered with Face of Shipping for the Adopt A Ship Program in India. The program was launched in 6 schools last year before COVID-19 interrupted its progress. Currently, the program is being run online with orphanages.
• A part of ISWAN’s ‘Special Purpose Group, DG’s ‘Maritime Vision’, and several other maritime groups.
• Conducted a safety awareness campaign for fishermen along the South Indian coast jointly with Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS). The campaign aimed to make fishermen aware of navigation aids available to them and rules they must follow while maneuvering around larger vessels in transit.
• Worked jointly with DG and a special committee to prepare DG Notice 7 of 2019, the first- ever guidelines for the employment of women seafarers in India. The guidelines came as a follow-up to IWSF's annual seminar in 2018, during which IWSF had launched its draft guideline for women seafarer employment.
• Recently launched a YouTube channel to educate the general public about how to enter this challenging and rewarding career in the merchant navy. Links to the videos can be found on our publication page under resources.
• Regularly shares information and conducts seminars to bring to light pressing issues related to women seafarers. We continuously liaise with organizations to open discussions on challenges faced in hiring women seafarers and work together with them to find solutions.

To become voice of all lady seafarers to ensure a gender diverse working environment on board ships.

To promote and support lady seafarers and help them overcome their all existing and future challenges.

• Support and Guide fellow seafarers and sailing women, understand challenges on board ships and learn to take right steps at right time.
• Guide and mentor young women seafarers embracing the shipping career during their adventurous journey in the maritime sector.
• Assist Companies bridge policy gaps for women seafarers on board and create awareness.
• Assist Government and Institutions in promoting education and policies related to women.
• Promote and assist government in their mission and focus on empowerment of women.
• Assist government and policy makers formulating rules & regulations to the views of women seafarers and work against gender discrimination, if any.
• Increase visibility and presence of Women Seafarers in the Maritime sector.

• To work towards protecting rights of women seafarers and promote their fair treatment onboard ships.
• To raise awareness in the society about women in seafaring profession, aid and assist activities to encourage women participation in shipping.
• To provide appropriate Gender sensitization training on a sustained and evolving basis.
• To provide placement support, assistance and moral counselling to women seafarers for sailing career.