For the third consecutive year, on the occasion of May 18 — the International Day for Women in Maritime — the Faculty of Maritime Studies at the University of Rijeka has organized special event. Women working in the maritime industry, most of whom graduated from the Faculty, are invited to share their professional experiences and offer guidance to young colleagues and students. The goal is to help them pursue careers at sea or in shore-based maritime roles more easily and with fewer prejudices.
In 2021, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) declared May 18 as the International Day for Women in Maritime to raise awareness about the challenges women face in maritime professions, both at sea and on land.
This day celebrates the contributions of women in the maritime industry, promotes their employment and retention, strengthens the commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal on gender equality, and supports efforts to address the current gender imbalance in the sector.
Previous events have featured female seafarers, cadets, and officers serving on merchant and passenger vessels as well as mega yachts, along with directors of seafarer recruitment agencies, maritime agency executives, and managers in global maritime companies.
This year’s roundtable, held under the IMO’s motto “An Ocean of Opportunities for Women,” included the following participants:
- Maja Borčić – After earning her degree from the Faculty of Maritime Studies, she worked at Maersk, then at Safemarin as a customer care officer. She later served as a project manager at APM Terminals and, since summer 2023, has been the Commercial Director at Rijeka Gateway.
- Lorena Rušinić Juričević – A graduate of the Faculty of Maritime Studies, she has worked at COMARK since 2014 in various roles. She is now a board member of COMARK, a company specializing in oversized and special cargo logistics.
- Petra Petrinić – Served as a cadet and officer on LNG vessels with Hoegh LNG. She later worked at the Accident Investigation Agency in Zagreb before returning to Rijeka, where she is currently employed at INI as a Port Captain at the terminal.
- Marina Belasić – Worked as an officer on container ships with CMA CGM. She then became a Cargo Surveyor in Hamburg, Germany, before returning to Rijeka, where she now works as a Terminal Dynamic Planner at Rijeka Gateway.
- Petra Prosenica – Served as an officer on tankers for the company Tome. She later returned to Rijeka and is now a Terminal Supervisor at Rijeka Gateway.
The discussion was moderated by Prof. Dr. Sc. Jakov Karmelić, a former professor at the Faculty of Maritime Studies, currently General Manager at CMA CGM Group and a member of the INNO2MARE Innovation Council.
The roundtable participants shared that their career journeys have been largely positive, even though they were often the only women in their workplaces. They credited the Faculty of Maritime Studies for supporting their ability to study while working.
They also noted that while maritime work can be physically demanding and occurs year-round regardless of weather conditions, modernization and technological progress are helping to reduce gender disparities.
Lovorka Paškvan also contributed to the discussion by presenting CMA CGM Group’s She Sails program, emphasizing that it offers mentorship both at sea and onshore, as well as psychological support for female employees.
The event concluded with remarks from the Dean of the Faculty of Maritime Studies, Prof. Dr. Sc. Ana Perić Hadžić, who highlighted the diversity of roles within the maritime sector and its wealth of opportunities. She encouraged students to “dive into the ocean of opportunities.”
