The Women in Maritime Association’s (Fiji) (WIMA)

work plan 2017 – 2018 activities is looking very comprehensive with exciting activities been proposed.

This was confirmed by Fiji WIMA president Ms Patricia Ho on Monday.

She said the new seafarers association was gaining momentum and recognition.

According to Ms Ho they had tried to call a meeting for seafarers but it seems to be difficult as the domestic shipping services are on a constant sailing schedule.

“Having a group of female seafarers get together is currently a challenge,” she said.

“When they do get into port, they have other priorities.”

Fiji WIMA she says understands domestic shipping services is already into their very busy period with school holidays and Christmas around the corner.

She said they had heard from some via email, messenger and viber and had left forms with the executive member Mrs. Miriama T. Naqasima who worked for Government Shipping.

“She is in a better position to meet up with these ladies.”

Fiji WIMA she said was in contact with other women seafarers association in the Pacific.

Last month she said the Fiji WIMA executive committee met Ms. Ore O. Toua, Maritime Training Advisor with the Pacific Community (SPC).

She shared the Papua New Guinea (PNG) WIMA experience since its formation in 2007.

The committee according to Ms Ho also had an observer Dr. Ju Young Yoo from Korea with a logistics background.

“This meeting was very successful as Fiji WIMA was made aware of challenges associations like Fiji WIMA may face how to plan ahead and how Fiji WIMA can organise activities to achieve its goals and make a difference in the maritime sector.”

Meanwhile according to Wikipedia the International Maritime Organisation (IMO)  continues to support the participation of women in both shore-based and sea-going posts, in line with the goals outlined under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5: “Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls”, under the slogan: Training-Visibility-Recognition.

The testimony of the first 28 years of IMO’s gender and capacity-building programme is that empowering women fuels thriving economies, spurs productivity and growth, and benefits every stakeholder in the global maritime community.