The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has conferred the 2026 Gender Equality Award upon Professor Momoko Kitada, a distinguished Japanese academic and former seafarer. The award was presented by IMO Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez during a ceremony held on May 18, 2026, coinciding with the International Day for Women in Maritime. Professor Kitada was recognised for her decades of work in transforming gender balance from a policy goal into a tangible reality within the global shipping industry.
A Pioneer in Maritime Gender Equality
Professor Momoko Kitada currently serves as the Academic Dean and Full Professor at the World Maritime University (WMU), located in Malmö, Sweden. Her journey in the maritime sector began as a seafarer, where she earned a Third Deck Officer License. She later transitioned into academia, obtaining a PhD in Social Science from Cardiff University in the United Kingdom.
As the Nippon Foundation Chair in Gender and Innovation, Professor Kitada has dedicated over 20 years to researching the human element of shipping. She is a certified Gender Audit Facilitator and has been instrumental in mentoring women across the globe. During the award ceremony, her latest publication, the Handbook on Gender Mainstreaming in the Maritime Sector, was officially launched. This handbook provides practical tools for maritime administrations and private companies to improve female participation in a sector where women currently represent only 1 per cent of the global seafarer workforce.
Understanding the IMO Gender Equality Award
The IMO Gender Equality Award was established in 2022 to honour individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the empowerment of women in the maritime industry. The award aims to highlight best practices and inspire future leaders to advocate for a more diverse and inclusive workforce. Candidates for the award are nominated by IMO Member States or international organisations and are evaluated by a panel of experts before being approved by the IMO Council.
Previous Recipients of the Honour
Since its inception, the award has recognised trail-blazing women who have broken barriers in various branches of the maritime world.
| Year | Recipient | Nationality | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Despina Panayiotou Theodosiou | Cyprus | CEO of Tototheo Maritime and former President of WISTA International |
| 2025 | Karin Orsel | Netherlands | CEO of MF Shipping Group and President of ECSA |
| 2026 | Momoko Kitada | Japan | Academic Dean at the World Maritime University |
The 2026 Theme: From Policy to Practice
The 2026 edition of the International Day for Women in Maritime was observed under the theme “From Policy to Practice”. This theme emphasises the urgent need to move beyond creating regulations and start implementing concrete changes at the ground level. The maritime industry is currently facing a projected shortfall of 90,000 officers by the end of 2026, making the inclusion of women not just a matter of equity but a business necessity.
Data from the IMO-WISTA Women in Maritime Survey shows that while women hold nearly 34 per cent of private sector board seats in shipping, their presence at sea remains critically low. Initiatives like the SMART-C Women Project, supported by South Korea, are now leveraging technology and digitalisation as gender neutral tools to bridge this gap.
International Maritime Organization: The Global Regulator
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships.
- Establishment: The IMO Convention was adopted in 1948, and the organisation held its first meeting in 1959.
- Headquarters: It is headquartered in London, United Kingdom.
- Leadership: The current Secretary General is Arsenio Dominguez, who took office in January 2024.
- Role: As the global regulatory authority, the IMO sets standards for the safety, security, and environmental performance of international shipping. It currently oversees several critical conventions, including SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) and MARPOL (Prevention of Pollution from Ships).
Key Takeaways
- Professor Momoko Kitada has been awarded the 2026 IMO Gender Equality Award for her work at the World Maritime University.
- The award ceremony was held on May 18, 2026, which is the International Day for Women in Maritime.
- Professor Kitada authored the newly launched Handbook on Gender Mainstreaming in the Maritime Sector.
- The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is a UN agency headquartered in London, currently led by Arsenio Dominguez.
- The theme for the 2026 International Day for Women in Maritime is “From Policy to Practice”.
- The World Maritime University (WMU) is a postgraduate maritime university established by the IMO in 1983 and is located in Malmö, Sweden.
