Building Inclusive Maritime Recruitment Teams

The maritime industry has long been the backbone of global trade and commerce, playing a pivotal role in the movement of goods and resources across the world. As the industry evolves, the need for a diverse and inclusive workforce becomes increasingly important.

Recruitment practices that prioritize diversity and inclusion not only foster a more equitable work environment but also drive innovation, improve problem-solving, and enhance overall organizational performance.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the significance of diversity, equity and inclusion within your maritime recruitment department and share strategies for promoting diversity, combating bias, and creating inclusive workplaces.

The importance of diversity and inclusion in maritime recruitment teams

First of all, what exactly is diversity, equity and inclusion? Often abbreviated to DE & I, diversity, equity and inclusion are, in the words of management consultants McKinsey and Company:

“....three closely linked values held by many organizations that are working to be supportive of different groups of individuals, including people of different races, ethnicities, religions, abilities, genders, and sexual orientations.”

Having a diverse hiring team in a maritime recruitment office can significantly enhance the recruitment process by bringing varied perspectives and experiences to the table, which helps in identifying and selecting better seafarers.

a young officer of colour on the deck of a vessel

A diverse team can mitigate unconscious biases, ensuring a fairer assessment of seafaring candidates based on their skills and qualifications rather than preconceived notions. This inclusivity fosters a more comprehensive understanding of different cultural and professional backgrounds, leading to more informed and balanced hiring decisions.

Consequently, this diversity within the hiring team promotes the selection of a more competent and versatile crew, capable of operating effectively in the multicultural environment onboard vessels.

Here are some of the benefits of embracing DE & I in your maritime recruitment department.

Enhanced innovation and creativity

Diversity brings together individuals with different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. In the maritime industry, this can lead to enhanced creativity and innovation. Diverse teams are more likely to come up with unique solutions to complex problems, which is essential in an industry that faces constant technological and environmental challenges.

Improved decision-making

Inclusive teams benefit from a wider range of viewpoints, leading to better decision-making. When team members feel valued and included, they are more likely to share their insights and contribute to discussions. This collective intelligence can significantly improve the quality of decisions made within maritime organizations.

Better representation and market reach

A diverse workforce reflects the global nature of the maritime industry. By recruiting individuals from various cultural and ethnic backgrounds, maritime companies can better understand and serve different markets. This representation can enhance customer relations and expand business opportunities internationally.

a diverse group of people working in a shipping office

Addressing of skill shortages

Shipping companies and manning agents can sometimes face skill shortages, both in the office and on your vessels and particularly in specialized roles. By adopting inclusive recruitment practices, businesses can tap into a broader talent pool, including underrepresented groups such as women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities. This approach not only fills skill gaps but also promotes equity and fairness in hiring.

Strategies for promoting diversity in your maritime recruitment team

So if inclusivity and equity are a must for your shipping company or manning agency, and you’re aiming for a diverse team who also understand the importance of collaboration, how do you make sure that this actually happens, and isn’t just a ‘nice idea’?

Implement bias-free recruitment processes

One of the first steps in promoting diversity in your maritime recruitment team is to implement bias-free recruitment processes. This can be achieved by:

Standardizing job descriptions: Ensure that job descriptions are clear, inclusive, and free from gender-specific language.
Blind recruitment: Remove identifying information from applications, such as names and photos, to prevent unconscious bias during the initial screening process.
Diverse hiring team: Assemble a diverse hiring group to ensure that more than one perspective is considered during the recruitment process.

Foster partnerships with diverse organizations

Collaborate with organizations that support underrepresented groups in the maritime industry. Partnering with maritime academies, diversity-focused associations, and community groups can help attract a wider range of candidates - both for your shore-based jobs and your jobs at sea.

These partnerships can also provide valuable insights into best practices for inclusive recruitment and retention.

Provide training and development opportunities

Investing in training and development opportunities for all employees is crucial for building an inclusive workforce. Offer programs that focus on:

Cultural competency: Educate employees on cultural awareness and sensitivity to create a more inclusive work environment.
Leadership development: Encourage underrepresented groups to pursue leadership roles by providing mentorship and career development programs.
Skill enhancement: Provide continuous learning opportunities to help employees advance their careers and contribute effectively to the organization.

Combating bias in recruitment

What is recruitment bias - and could you be guilty of it? Recruitment website Indeed describes bias in recruitment as:

“...recruitment bias occurs when you create an opinion about a prospect simply based on initial impressions. It's also when you favour one applicant over another merely because the first one appears to be someone with whom you would easily socialise outside of work. Even in the early phases of the recruiting process, a candidate's CV image, name or birthplace has a greater impact on your decision than you potentially believe.”

Here’s how not to fall into the recruitment bias trap when you’re recruiting new team members for your maritime recruitment department.

Raise awareness of unconscious bias

Unconscious bias can significantly impact recruitment decisions. Raise awareness among hiring managers and employees about the existence and effects of unconscious bias. Conduct workshops and training sessions to help individuals recognize and mitigate their biases.

Use data-driven approaches

Leverage data and analytics to monitor and assess the effectiveness of diversity initiatives. Track key metrics such as the diversity of applicant pools, hiring rates, and retention rates. Use this data to identify areas for improvement and make informed decisions about recruitment strategies.

Establish clear diversity goals

Set clear, measurable diversity goals for your maritime organization. These goals should align with the company’s overall mission and values. Regularly review progress towards these goals and adjust strategies as needed to ensure continuous improvement.

Creating inclusive workplaces

So the goal is to create an inclusive workplace - for all of your employees. That goes for the maritime recruitment team, the crew planners, crew managers, accounts department, IT department and more.

As per the US-based non-profit Understood:

“An inclusive workplace welcomes and supports people with all kinds of differences. It doesn’t just include people who are neurodivergent or who have a disability. It ensures equal opportunities for everyone to succeed.”

Here’s how you can help achieve inclusivity goals in your company or department.

Promote an inclusive culture

Creating an inclusive workplace culture is essential for retaining diverse talent. Encourage open communication, respect for different perspectives, and collaboration. Celebrate cultural diversity through events, initiatives, and policies that recognize and value the contributions of all employees.

Support employee resource groups

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are valuable for fostering a sense of belonging and community within the workplace. Support the formation of ERGs focused on various dimensions of diversity, such as gender, ethnicity, and disability. Provide resources and support for these groups to thrive and contribute to the company’s inclusivity efforts.

a diverse team holding a meeting in an office

Ensure equitable opportunities

Ensure that all employees have access to equitable opportunities for career advancement. Implement fair performance evaluation processes, provide transparent pathways for promotion, and address any barriers that may hinder the progress of underrepresented groups.

DE & I within your maritime recruitment team

Building a diverse and inclusive workforce is not just a moral imperative but a business necessity. By prioritizing diversity in recruitment, combating bias, and fostering inclusive workplaces, maritime companies can enhance innovation, improve decision-making, and better serve global markets.

As the industry continues to navigate the challenges of the 21st century, embracing diversity and inclusion will be key to achieving sustainable growth and success.

How Martide helps with maritime recruitment

Martide’s maritime crew management software has been created with small to medium sized shipping companies and manning agencies in mind.

From finding suitable seafarer candidates in our maritime recruitment database to advertising your jobs at sea (for free!) and from providing you with secure document storage to helping you plan crew changes more efficiently, our software is an end-to-end solution that helps your teams run their processes and operations more easily.

We offer free, no-strings-attached demos of how Martide works, so get in touch with us and book YOUR demo today.

Building a Diverse & Inclusive Maritime Recruitment Team