If you work at sea and are interested in sharing your experiences, the ITF would like to hear from you.

Women at sea face many challenges. Sometimes, the male-dominated nature of the workplace creates problems for women. It can be hard for qualified women coming out of maritime academies to find jobs. Women can feel discriminated against in the workplace.

The fact that a ship at sea is an isolated place can at times be difficult for women seafarers. If conflict develops, women often have to resolve it themselves, because qualified support is not immediately at hand. Neither can they go home to a supportive environment at the end of a working day. Long periods away from family are hard to bear for men and women alike.

At the same time, maritime jobs can be good jobs. In many parts of the world, jobs on merchant vessels are well-paid jobs. Women can do these jobs as well as men - a fact that has been recognised by maritime academies in several countries.

It may be that the sea is a difficult place for women to work - but if that is the case, it is a difficult place for men too. By improving the situation for women, we also improve it for men.

There are more women working on board cruise and ferry vessels than in the rest of the world's merchant fleet - but these are not easy jobs either. Shift work, stress and distance from home take their toll. Women may not have access to the health services needed to deal with women's issues. Employment often is on the basis of renewable contracts, as opposed to continuous employment. As a result women seafarers are often unable to complete their contract if they become pregnant, which could result in them not being hired after giving birth. The cruise and ferry industry will most likely continue to increase the employment of women seafarers, and the better companies can be approached to examine and implement good practice examples.

To progress these issues, and look at how unions can support women seafarers, the ITF is looking to develop better contact with women working at sea and would like to hear from any women employed on cargo ships, cruise ships, ferries, fishing vessels, tugs or other maritime craft.

So, if you, or someone you know is interested in joining an ITF women seafarers' network, please email the ITF women's officer at women@itf.org.uk.

This message was first published in Transport Women: The International Union Magazine for Women in Transport.

Visit the ITF website for more information.