On October 10, the Central American Network of Women in Maritime and Port Affairs (REMPORT) held a virtual conference titled “Inclusion of Women in the Maritime Sector in Chile: Gaps, Proposals, and Progress.” The event aimed to share experiences and best practices that promote gender equality in the region’s maritime and port industry.
Those in attendance included Raquel Meza, the CEO of the Mascarona Foundation and president of WISTA Chile, as well as T1 LT Carolina Pacheco of the General Directorate of Maritime Territory and Merchant Marine (DIRECTEMAR) and the Permanent Representative of the MAMLa Network in Chile.
In her opening remarks, Laura Rivera Carvajal, Deputy Director General of the Merchant Marine of Honduras and President of REMPORT, emphasized the importance of moving towards the full and equitable inclusion of women at all levels of the maritime sector. She stated that equality is not a quota but a matter of justice, sustainability, and efficiency.
“The inclusion of women is not a favor or a concession; it is a necessity for more innovative and resilient maritime development. We cannot do without the talent and vision of half of humanity,” said Laura Rivera.
COCATRAM Executive Director Otto Noack delivered an institutional message on behalf of Pro Tempore President Volney Guinard Estripeaut, recognizing REMPORT’s efforts to promote spaces for reflection and action on equal opportunities. Noack stated that “activities such as this strengthen COCATRAM’s commitment to creating more equitable work environments and consolidating networks that highlight women’s leadership in the maritime-port sector in our region.”
During the conference, T1 LT Carolina Pacheco discussed DIRECTEMAR’s progress in inclusion. She highlighted that, since 2007, women have been able to join the operational line of the Chilean Navy. Pacheco also emphasized the collaboration with the MAMLa Network and the implementation of the 2025-2029 Gender Strategy, which is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and the management indicators of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Raquel Meza presented the results of the collaborative efforts between the Mascarona Foundation, WISTA Chile, and DIRECTEMAR, presenting recent data on female participation in the global and regional maritime industry. She stressed the need to strengthen public policies and public-private partnerships that promote gender equality, highlighting that in Chile, women comprise 22% of the maritime energy sector workforce, which is an encouraging figure compared to the global average.
Raquel Meza also emphasized that “…the inclusion of women not only strengthens the development of the maritime sector, but also represents a real opportunity to innovate, generate quality jobs, and move toward more sustainable economies.”
The meeting concluded by reaffirming the commitment of REMPORT and COCATRAM to promoting policies and actions that guarantee greater participation of women in the maritime-port sector in Central America, encouraging the exchange of experiences with other regional networks such as Red MAMLa and WISTA, in line with the guidelines of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
