Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines welcomed 39 female students aboard the Bolette in Liverpool to mark International Women in Maritime Day, according to a press release.

The event, held in partnership with Liverpool Cruise Port, brought together students from Liverpool John Moores University, Hugh Baird College and Fleetwood Nautical Campus for presentations and a panel discussion.

“Having progressed through a career at sea, I recognize how pivotal and beneficial these events are to young people, and especially young women, looking to pursue a similar pathway or explore the opportunities within the maritime sector,” said Abbie Sanders, the compliance manager and master mariner at Fred Olsen Cruise Lines.

The panel was chaired by Angie Redhead, head of operations at Culture Liverpool, and included Sanders, Simone Roche MBE, founder and CEO of We Are PoWEr, Louise Robinson, ship superintendent at Mersey Ferries, Charlotte Fenton, customer service manager at Peel Ports, and Kate Orrell, agency manager at Denholm Port Services.

Women represent just 1.2 percent of the global seafarer workforce, the company said.

Students had the opportunity to network with organizations operating across Liverpool’s maritime sector, including Liverpool Cruise Port, Mersey Ferries, Peel Ports, Mersey Maritime, Denholm Port Services and Liverpool City Council.

The initiative forms part of Fred Olsen Cruise Lines and Liverpool Cruise Port’s 2026 community engagement and sustainability partnership, which is focused on creating meaningful contributions across Liverpool’s waterfront.

“We are delighted to be working with Fred Olsen Cruise Lines and our wider maritime partners to mark the occasion here in Liverpool,” said John Mawer, general manager of GPH UK Ports. “Collaboration is at the heart of this industry.”