The program, which began in the UK and Ireland in 2023, utilizes archival records and oral histories to highlight the roles women have played in the industry.
A key part of the initiative is the SHE_SEES exhibition, which was first displayed at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) headquarters during London International Shipping Week 2023. The exhibition is currently on tour and will remain at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard until August 2025.
The initiative aims to address the historically male-dominated perception of the maritime sector by bringing attention to the expertise and leadership of women. According to the IMO, women make up 29% of the overall industry workforce but only 2% of seafarers.
In its next phase, the initiative will extend to nine more countries over the next three years, starting in 2025 with Greece, the Netherlands, and India. The contemporary section of SHE_SEES is led by portrait photographer Emilie Sandy, who is encouraging more women to participate in the SHE_SEES HER VOICE project. This component allows women in the industry to collaborate with photographers to share their experiences and shape their own narratives.
Maritime historian Dr. Jo Stanley noted that women have historically taken on various roles in the industry, including as doctors, navigators, and shipbuilders, but their contributions have often been overlooked. She highlighted that women have made significant progress in the sector since the 1970s.
As part of the initiative, a film titled Women in Shipbuilding has been produced in collaboration with Historic England, documenting the history of women in the UK shipbuilding industry.