When women come on board, the culture changes
A new report from the University of Southern Denmark, in collaboration with the shipping company Hafnia, shows that gender-diverse crews on cargo ships influence collaboration, leadership and well-being on board. But creating change requires both challenging old norms and placing greater emphasis on mental health.
Shipping is shaped by three major megatrends: digitalisation, the green transition and increased diversity. While the first two have already made their mark on technology and climate efforts in the industry, a new report from SDU and Hafnia shows that work on gender balance is also beginning to transform working life at sea.
The report Beyond the Bow, produced by the Research Unit of Maritime Health and Technology, explores how everyday life on board is affected when men and women work side by side in a traditionally male-dominated sector. The study is based on survey data, interviews and fieldwork conducted on Hafnia’s cargo ships, where the company has actively pursued gender-balanced crewing.
Three questions for the researcher about the study
What are you investigating in the study?
We are examining what promotes and hinders diversity crewing in the maritime sector, with the shipping company Hafnia as a case study.
What is the main finding?
Despite Hafnia’s existing framework for well-being, the results show that loneliness and homesickness remain widespread among crew members.
In addition, 5% of the male respondents reported having had suicidal thoughts. This highlights the need for further, targeted initiatives to strengthen seafarers’ mental health.
The data indicate that women should make up at least 20% of the crew composition – equivalent to 4 out of 21 crew members – to achieve a balanced and sustainable workforce.
How can the results be used?
The research can serve as inspiration for other shipping companies in the maritime industry and as a model for how to work strategically and practically with gender equality in sectors with strong traditions and gender-segregated norms (such as transport, construction and defence).
It can be used to strengthen maritime education in relation to leadership, group dynamics, mental health and diversity at sea. It can also be used to highlight the well-being of both women and men, as well as women’s health at sea.
- Diversity crewing is a development that will take time. It’s about changing norms and traditions that have been embedded for centuries, in order to make room for a new culture, says senior researcher Lisa Loloma Froholdt, who, together with her research unit, is behind the report.
The term “diversity crewing” refers to the conscious composition and support of crews with attention to differences in gender, age, nationality and experience – rather than recruiting solely based on familiar patterns.
Myths and resistance slow progress
Although many recognise the benefits of diversity, some men feel that women are being favoured – for example, when it comes to promotions.
- It’s only natural that resistance arises in a culture that has existed for centuries. To make the diversity project succeed, it was necessary to place a particular focus on women and ensure their presence across different roles on board, says Lisa Loloma Froholdt.
According to the report, gossip, stereotypes and uncertainty about social norms can create tension if there is no active focus on culture, communication and leadership.
About the project Beyond the Bow
Title: Beyond the Bow – Diversity crewing as the “Third D” in Maritime Megatrends
Partners: Research Unit of Maritime Health and Technology, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, and the shipping company Hafnia.
Method: A combination of survey data and anthropological fieldwork on selected cargo ships. The fieldwork included observations, interviews and participation in the crew’s daily life.
Purpose: To explore what promotes and hinders diversity, and how it affects collaboration, safety, well-being and working culture.
Funding: The project is funded by the Danish Maritime Fund and Hafnia as part of a strategic partnership with SDU on working culture and diversity.
The report: Published on 11 November 2025 and available here.
Practical conditions hinder gender equality
It's not just attitudes that need to change – the physical conditions also play a role. This includes work clothing, facilities and technical equipment.
- The technology needs to keep up. For example, lighter ropes are available, but they’re not yet used everywhere. Workwear needs to be better adapted to women’s bodies, and there must be proper changing rooms and toilet facilities – this is something both women and men ask for, says Lisa Loloma Froholdt.
If practical conditions aren't improved, there's a risk that it will become too difficult to retain women in the industry – not because of the work itself, but because of the framework around it, she argues.
Well-being and safety are essential
The report shows that mental health is a challenge for both genders. Men in particular report sexual harassment, loneliness, sleep problems and, in some cases, suicidal thoughts.
That’s why it’s important to support both men and women in thriving at sea – and to prevent bullying and harassment through clear policies and procedures.
- There must be robust policies and procedures in place to prevent sexual harassment and reduce bullying at sea. This report contributes concrete insights into how that can be done in practice – and what companies, managers and employees need to be aware of, says Lisa Loloma Froholdt.
About Hafnia
- Hafnia is one of the world’s largest shipping companies within the product tanker segment.
- Its vessels transport oil products and chemicals along global routes.
- The crews are multinational and work across languages, cultures and backgrounds.
- The company collaborates with SDU in the Maritime Culture Lab to promote well-being and gender equality in the maritime work environment.
- As part of this project, Hafnia has actively assembled gender-balanced crews on selected ships as part of a strategic effort to enhance diversity.
Experiences reach beyond the maritime sector
According to Lisa Loloma Froholdt, the insights from the report are also relevant in other sectors with strong traditions and gender-segregated norms – such as transport, construction and defence.
The experiences gained through the project in relation to collaboration, safety and leadership in multicultural and gender-diverse teams can inspire better working environment initiatives across many industries.
- We hope these experiences will be actively used – to support new seafarers, improve cross-cultural collaboration, and to create a more inclusive maritime culture where everyone wants to contribute, she says.
This is especially important for young and newly employed men and women:
- We need to make sure they don’t end up like ‘deer in the headlights’, but instead get a good transition into life on board. That way, the industry has a better chance of retaining
Meet the researcher
Lisa Loloma Froholdt is research director and senior researcher at the Research Unit of Maritime Health and Technology (MHT), Department of Public Health.