Fleet Management Wins Best Practices in Diversity Award at Maritime SheEO 2026

Fleet Management Limited has received the Best Practices in Diversity Award at Maritime SheEO 2026 in recognition of its efforts to widen opportunity, strengthen inclusion and support more women in building long-term maritime careers.

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In support of Fleet's vision to be the industry-leading destination for maritime and professional talent, Fleet Management was proud to receive the Best Practices in Diversity Award at Maritime SheEO 2026.

The award recognises Fleet's commitment to creating opportunity, developing future leaders and supporting more women in building long-term maritime careers.

As the maritime sector continues to evolve, broadening participation is becoming increasingly important. Creating a stronger workforce is about more than recruitment. Retention, mentorship, professional development and visible pathways into leadership all play a role in ensuring talented professionals can build rewarding careers and progress into positions of responsibility.

Fleet Management and the International Maritime Institute (IMI) support that objective through practical initiatives that connect education, professional development, wellbeing and career progression throughout a maritime career.

Award-Winning Diversity Initiatives

The Caravel Group, parent company of Fleet Management and IMI, has long championed investment in people, capability development and opportunities for future maritime leaders.

“When I look at the future of maritime, I see both opportunity and responsibility. Conversations around diversity are important because they encourage us to challenge old assumptions and look at what more can be done. But ultimately, the test is in our actions -in how we invest in people, strengthen capability and create opportunities for talent to succeed.”

Diversity and inclusion form part of the Encompass responsibility strategy, particularly its Safeguarding People and Working Together pillars.

Practical measures support that commitment. These include women-specific personal protective equipment, mentoring programmes and direct access to health and wellbeing support, alongside pre-joining briefings and 24/7 assistance services. Peer support groups also provide a forum for women seafarers to share experiences, challenges and successes throughout their careers.

Fleet provides gender sensitisation training for all seafarers sailing with female officers, promotes equal pay for equal work and maintains a target of zero confirmed cases of discrimination or harassment.

These efforts continue to show progress. In 2025, targeted support and increased visibility contributed to a 30% increase in women seafarers across the organisation. While Fleet's first women Masters and Chief Engineers continue to demonstrate what is possible when talent is supported and given opportunities to progress.

Onshore, the organisation continues to broaden diversity by attracting specialists across disciplines including law, technology, communications and finance, reflecting the evolving needs of a modern maritime business.

Through IMI, The Caravel Group also supports pathways connecting maritime education with professional careers at sea. More than 500 cadets have entered Fleet's talent pipeline since IMI joined the Group, helping strengthen access to maritime careers while supporting the industry's future workforce requirements. Fee concessions for women cadets are helping encourage more women to pursue maritime studies and careers at sea.

Maritime SheEO 2026

The award was presented during Maritime SheEO 2026, which brought together more than 500 maritime professionals, cadets and industry stakeholders to discuss the future of leadership, inclusion and talent development across the maritime sector. Fleet Management returned as Diversity Sponsor for a second consecutive year, alongside IMI.

Aditi Garg, Group Legal Director, The Caravel Group, delivered the opening keynote, discussing how Fleet Management and IMI are helping translate inclusion into action through educational pathways, equal opportunity, leadership development and long-term career progression. She said:

 “The maritime industry operates across borders, cultures and complex regulatory environments, making perspective important. As organisations become more diverse, we should ensure this diversity is reflected in how we collaborate and make decisions. I value forums such as Maritime SheEO because they bring professionals together to exchange experiences and elevate our collective community towards meaningful action on maritime diversity.”

‍Capt. Deepak Correa, Chief Operating Officer, Fleet Management India Operations, participated in the panel discussion "She Owns. She Builds. She Invests.", sharing perspectives on leadership, workforce development and managing talent in an increasingly technology-enabled working environment.

Senior leaders also participated in a closed-door discussion with cadets from maritime institutes across India, exploring leadership, mental wellbeing, training and career development.

The Fleet Management and IMI exhibition stand welcomed more than 400 visitors, creating opportunities for cadets to engage directly with maritime leaders, employers and industry stakeholders from around the world.

Progress Through Collective Action

No organisation can achieve meaningful industry-wide change alone. Improving representation across maritime requires collaboration between shipowners, ship managers, training institutions, seafarers and industry partners.

As the industry prepares for its next chapter, broadening participation and strengthening inclusion will play an important role in ensuring maritime remains an attractive career destination for future generations.

Real progress means creating an industry where women can enter with confidence, develop their capabilities, advance on merit and build lasting careers at sea and onshore. We are proud to support Maritime SheEO and play our part in building that future.