Fast Group

WISTA’s role in world shipping

Catrien Scheers discusses women and maritime

Catrien Scheers, chairwoman of Belgian breakbulk company Fast Group, recently attended the AGM of WISTA International in Hamburg. The main mission of WISTA is to promote women into leadership positions in the traditionally male-dominated shipping industry. Interviewed by Royal Belgian Shipowners Association (RBSA), she discussed the changing roles women have within the shipowning community.

It was 10 years ago, Marc Nuytemans – the managing director of the RBSA at the time - asked Scheers to join WISTA. His wife Carmen Dewilde started WISTA Belgium.

“I did not feel the need to join an all-women’s club, but Marc said I should give it a try,” Scheers said in conversation with the RBSA, adding: “I never regretted this. WISTA is an amazing network. Just imagine the wonderful energy when maritime women from 54 nations come together. We laugh and have fun while re-imagining the future of the maritime industry.”

Apart from addressing the gender gap, WISTA also organises itself around committees looking at diversity, HR, technologies, and most recently trade.

“The purpose of these committees is to offer the opportunity for dialogue between different actors in the industry and for women to weigh in on debates that shape shipping and trading,” Scheers explained.

WISTA provides liaison with other related institutions and organisations worldwide. It partners with the International Chamber of Shipping for example to offer scholarships to provide young women with deeper knowledge of the maritime industry. An MoU was signed between WISTA and the IMO in 2020, and as part of this collaboration, a survey will be undertaken every three years. The IMO-WISTA international survey on women in maritime is to examine the proportion and distribution of women working in the maritime sector, from support roles to executive level positions.

In terms of advice for women leaders out there who are still not members of WISTA and for any young women who are considering a career in shipping, Scheers told the RBSA: “If you are looking for an innovative, open minded, varied, and international job, consider shipping as no two days are the same and do join WISTA. As WISTA member, you have access to an incredibly diverse network of executives in the shipping and trading field on whom you can call for referrals, connections, advice, and business collaborations.”. ●

“Consider shipping as a career as no two days are the same”

Spot on Fast Group

Founded in 1991 and controlled by the Scheers family. Fleet today features four breakbulk ships.