French shipping giant CMA CGM has doubled the number of women seafarers in just one year following the launch of its She Sails program – a major step forward in an industry that has traditionally struggled with gender diversity.
Launched in December 2024, the program increased the number of women serving on CMA CGM vessels from 200 to 403 by the end of 2025, a 101% increase. Building on this momentum, the company has set an ambitious new target: 1,000 women seafarers by 2030.
“In just one year, our program has proven its effectiveness – the results have exceeded our expectations,” said Christine Cabau Woehrlé, Executive Vice President in charge of Operations and Assets. “More and more women are taking on key roles, their career progression is accelerating, their confidence is growing, and our teams are becoming more diverse and more efficient.”
The success of She Sails is underpinned by a network of 42 ambassadors in 19 countries and strategic partnerships with maritime academies in Abu Dhabi and India, with additional agreements under development in the Philippines and Indonesia. These partnerships aim to strengthen the pipeline of female cadets entering the industry.
Career progression is a core priority of the initiative. Over the past year, 74 promotions have been recorded. Eight women have advanced into senior officer roles covering four top levels of onboard responsibility, while 48 have moved from cadet positions into junior officer ranks. For the first time in the company’s history, one woman was promoted from ordinary seaman to able seaman.
The She Sails program is built on three main pillars: attraction, promotion, and retention. It offers internship opportunities and mentoring schemes for female maritime students, while emphasizing equal opportunities for advancement, equal pay, and protection from harassment for existing employees.
The initiative targets women seafarers, female maritime students, and women considering a career at sea, presenting seafaring as a path that combines adventure, a global outlook, and professional fulfillment.
CMA CGM has reaffirmed its long-term commitment to gender diversity and equal opportunity across all its operations, continuing to support women’s careers in maritime and contributing to the transformation of the global trading fleet.
