The Ports and Maritime Affairs in cooperation with APM Terminals Bahrain, marked the International Day for Women in Maritime 2026 at the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance, under this year’s theme, “From Policy to Practice: Advancing Gender Equality for Maritime Excellence.”
The event brought together wide participation from representatives of the maritime and logistics sectors, as well as public and private sector entities.
On the occasion, Bader Hood Al Mahmood, Undersecretary for Ports and Maritime Affairs at the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications, affirmed that the Kingdom of Bahrain attaches great importance to advancing women’s progress and strengthening their presence across vital sectors, particularly the maritime sector, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
He highlighted that Bahraini women, supported by the continuous efforts of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW), chaired by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Consort of His Majesty the King and President of the council, have become a distinguished model of competence and professionalism across maritime and logistics specialisations.
He noted that women have demonstrated a strong presence in leadership, technical and administrative positions, making effective contributions to the development of the maritime transport ecosystem and supporting services. He added that investing in female talent remains a key pillar in advancing the maritime sector and driving sustainability and innovation.
Al Mahmood said that marking the International Day for Women in Maritime represents an important opportunity to highlight women’s growing achievements in the sector and further strengthen their role across maritime transport, ports, logistics services, and technical and specialised maritime disciplines, in line with sustainable development goals and efforts to enhance the competitiveness of Bahrain’s national maritime sector.
He added that Ports and Maritime Affairs has, over recent years, continued to develop legislative and regulatory frameworks that support equal opportunities and safeguard women’s rights, noting that Law (10) of 2022 promulgating the Maritime Law marked a significant milestone in reinforcing these efforts and aligning national legislation with relevant international conventions and standards.
For his part, Matthew Luckhurst, Chief Executive Officer of APM Terminals Bahrain, said the company is proud to partner with Ports and Maritime Affairs in organising the international event, reaffirming its commitment to supporting female talent and fostering an inclusive and sustainable working environment in the logistics and maritime sectors.
Luckhurst said that women play an increasingly important role in advancing the ports and logistics sector, noting that investing in female talent helps drive innovation, enhance operational efficiency, and support the sustainable growth of Bahrain’s maritime sector.
Luckhurst added that the company continues to implement specialised initiatives and programmes aimed at supporting women’s professional empowerment through training opportunities, leadership development, and encouraging greater participation in operational and technical roles, further strengthening their contribution to the future of the maritime and logistics industries.
The programme featured keynote addresses, a specialised panel discussion, and the recognition of a number of women professionals working in the maritime sector.
Held under the title “From Policy to Practice,” the panel discussion explored pathways for translating legislation and policies into practical support and professional development programmes for women in the maritime sector.
The session also highlighted successful national experiences in maritime training, women’s leadership, digital transformation, and fostering workplace environments that promote diversity and inclusion.
Participants further discussed the importance of building effective public-private partnerships to expand training and qualification opportunities, support women’s advancement, and strengthen regional and international exchange of expertise, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of Bahrain’s maritime sector at both regional and global levels.
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