IMO Selects Chinese Teaching Chief Mate for 2027 Gender Equality Award
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has chosen Ms Yu Jiajia, a Teaching Chief Mate and instructor at the Navigation College of Dalian Maritime University in Dalian, north-east China, for its 2027 Gender Equality Award. The IMO Council endorsed her nomination by China at its 138th session in London, held from 2 to 6 November. The news was published on 10 November.
Ms Yu has spent more than 16 years combining seafaring, teaching and research. She was the first woman under the jurisdiction of China’s Liaoning Maritime Safety Administration to earn a Certificate of Competency for unlimited navigation areas. She has served more than 50 months at sea, rising from cadet to Third Mate, Second Mate and Teaching Chief Mate, and also holds a magnetic compass adjuster’s certificate.
From the CrewMirror Blog
As a seagoing training instructor on the university’s training ship Yu Kun, she has supervised about 3,000 students, including more than a thousand women. She has held over 100 one-to-one mentoring sessions with female students and co-authored more than 10 textbooks. The award will be presented in May 2027, around the International Day for Women in Maritime on 18 May.
The IMO also gave a Letter of Commendation to Ms Gemma Griffin of DFDS, nominated by Denmark. The award comes as maritime administrations, including India’s, take steps to protect and support women seafarers, and as unions push for a more inclusive workplace for women at sea.
CrewMirror Takeaway
Ms Yu’s career shows how experienced women officers who return to training ships can shape the next generation of cadets. Women cadets and junior officers can benefit greatly from seeking out such mentors early in their careers.
