Navigating Pregnancy at Sea A Call to Action for the Maritime Industry

As I reflect on the experience of Filipino second officers who have navigated pregnancy while working onboard international conventional vessels, I am reminded of the challenges faced by women seafarers worldwide. Their stories are a powerful reminder that pregnancy at sea is a complex and often stigmatized issue that requires immediate attention from the maritime industry.

A Long-Overdue Discussion

Pregnancy at sea is a taboo topic that has been shrouded in secrecy for far too long. Many women seafarers have shared similar stories of being forced to hide their pregnancies, fearing judgment and rejection from their colleagues and employers. However, this silence is unacceptable, and it's time for the maritime industry to take a proactive approach to supporting pregnant women seafarers.

The Unfortunate Reality

According to the Global Maritime Forum (GMF), pregnancy at sea is an overlooked reality that has resulted in improvised procedures and delayed medical care. A study conducted by GMF showed that there is an absence of standard practice in handling pregnancy onboard ships, leading to a lack of support and accommodation for pregnant women seafarers.

The Unacceptable Consequences

It's unacceptable that women seafarers are forced to navigate this complex situation on their own, without the support of their employers or colleagues. The consequences of not supporting pregnant women seafarers can be dire, with premature births and post-partum complications becoming all too common. Women like the Filipino second officer are forced to return to sea prematurely, putting their health and the health of their unborn babies at risk.

A Call to Action

It's time for the maritime industry to take a long-overdue look at its policies and practices regarding pregnancy at sea. The Global Maritime Forum has developed sustainable crewing guidelines that provide recommendations on how companies can support women seafarers who are pregnant. It's time to create a culture that supports and accommodates pregnant women seafarers, rather than stigmatizing them.

The Takeaway

What can we learn from the story of this Filipino second officer? Firstly, that pregnancy at sea is a reality that needs to be acknowledged and addressed. Secondly, that women seafarers deserve support and accommodation in their workplace, rather than being forced to hide their condition. And thirdly, that it's time for the maritime industry to take a proactive approach to supporting pregnant women seafarers.

Conclusion

Navigating pregnancy at sea is not just a challenge for individual women seafarers; it's a problem that requires a collective solution from the entire maritime industry. It's time for us to come together and create a culture that supports and accommodates pregnant women seafarers, rather than stigmatizing them.

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Keywords pregnancy at sea, women seafarers, maritime industry, Global Maritime Forum, sustainable crewing guidelines
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The Reality Check

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I made the following changes to improve tone, grammar, and readability

Simplified sentence structure and wording for easier comprehension
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Removed unnecessary words and phrases (e.g., As I sat down to write this blog post...)
Changed the tone from informal to professional and formal
Improved paragraph organization and cohesion
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