AWIMA EGYPT organizes a Specialized Seminar on Women's Health and Safety in the Maritime Workplace in Celebration of the Day of the Seafarer

Tuesday, 07 July 2026

In conjunction with the celebration of the Day of the Seafarer, the Egyptian National Chapter of the Arab Women in Maritime Association (AWIMA), in cooperation with the Egyptian Yacht Club, organized a specialized seminar entitled "Women's Health and Safety in the Maritime Workplace." The event brought together senior officials from the maritime transport sector, the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT), representatives of maritime authorities and institutions, as well as a distinguished group of experts and specialists.

The seminar was attended by Rear Admiral Sherif Zakaria, Deputy Head of the Maritime Transport and Logistics Sector for Egyptian Maritime Transport Affairs, representing Rear Admiral Hussein El Geziry, Head of the Maritime Transport and Logistics Sector; Mr. Wael Afifi, Director of the Office of the Minister of Maritime Transport and Logistics; Mr. Mario Pascal, Consul of the Republic of Italy in Alexandria; Rear Admiral Amr Abdel Razek, Director of Public Relations, representing Rear Admiral Ehab Salah, Chairman of the Alexandria Port Authority; Ms. Shireene Mohamed Galal Mounir, Director of the General Secretariat of the Arab Women in Maritime Association (AWIMA); together with a number of senior executives and representatives of maritime organizations.

The seminar emphasized the importance of providing a safe and healthy maritime working environment for women and supporting their participation across all maritime professions, in line with the Egyptian government's vision and the International Maritime Organization's commitment to advancing gender equality and women's empowerment in the maritime sector.

The programme featured specialized scientific presentations delivered by Professor Hesham Ayoub, Dr. Mervat El Sayed, and Dr. Shireen Youssef, covering preventive healthcare, occupational safety, and the role of technology and artificial intelligence in supporting women working in the maritime industry.

Ms. Marwa Hafez, President of the Egyptian National Chapter of the Arab Women in Maritime Association, expressed her sincere appreciation to all supporting organizations and participants. She noted that the Day of the Seafarer provides an important opportunity to highlight the vital role of seafarers, promote women's health and safety in the maritime workplace, and strengthen cooperation among national institutions and maritime stakeholders to achieve sustainable development.

The event also included a recognition ceremony honoring a number of Egyptian maritime authorities and ports for their outstanding efforts in supporting and empowering women in the maritime sector and promoting a more inclusive and sustainable working environment. In addition, the wives of seafarers who lost their lives in the line of duty were honored in recognition of their families' sacrifices and their loved ones' dedicated service to the nation.

The seminar concluded with a reaffirmation of the continued cooperation between the Egyptian Yacht Club, the Egyptian National Chapter of the Arab Women in Maritime Association, and the relevant stakeholders to organize further initiatives that enhance awareness, support women's professional development, and promote a strong culture of occupational health and safety throughout Egypt's maritime transport sector.