In an industry historically dominated by men, female leadership has moved beyond aspirational discourse to become a strategic driver of competitiveness, innovation, and transformation. Based on this premise, the Chinese shipping company COSCO Shipping Lines brought together representatives from academia, government, maritime associations, and specialized organizations for the forum “Women in the Maritime Sector: Leadership, Contribution, and Future in the Industry.” The forum was held in collaboration with the Institute of Legal Research of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) as part of International Women in the Maritime Sector Day, celebrated on May 18th.

Throughout the meeting, the panelists agreed that, despite institutional advances and the growing discourse of inclusion, structural barriers continue to limit female participation in the maritime-port sector , particularly in technical, operational and leadership positions.

“May this forum remind us that the sea does not distinguish genders, but it does recognize talent, preparation, courage, and leadership skills ,” stated Alejandra Álvarez, Administrative Director of Human Resources and Legal Affairs at Cosco Shipping Lines Mexico .

The “glass ceiling” persists at sea

Mónica González, director of the Institute of Legal Research at UNAM, warned that the dynamics of exclusion towards women have evolved and become more sophisticated within industries such as the maritime industry, where institutional discourses of equality often do not necessarily translate into real conditions of access and growth.

“The patriarchal structure is just that, it is a structure, it is a system that is not necessarily noticeable,” she argued.

The academic revisited concepts such as the “glass ceiling” and the “sticky floor,” but proposed a new metaphor to describe the female experience in male-dominated sectors: “the swampy ground ,” where entering and remaining involves constant risks of burnout, exclusion, and professional resignation.

Furthermore, she warned about the resurgence of regressive rhetoric regarding gender equality . “Every revolution has its counter-revolution,” she noted, warning that even hard-won rights are facing new challenges in various political and social spheres.

A strategic industry… with low female participation

The figures presented during the forum highlighted the magnitude of the gender gap that persists in the global maritime sector.

Diana Elena Portilla Romero, executive director of Maritime-Port Strategic Planning at the Ports and Merchant Marine Unit of the Mexican Navy (Semar) , cited the 2024 IMO-WISTA survey, which indicates that women represent approximately 19% of the workforce in national maritime authorities and about 16% in the private maritime sector. For seafarers, the figure is barely around 1%.

María de Jesús Medina Arellano, senior researcher at the Institute of Legal Research, added that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) reported 24,059 women working as crew members in 2021 , an increase of 45.8% compared to 2015; however, they still represent only 1.2% of seafarers worldwide.

“The historical underrepresentation is what has us today making the issue of women visible,” the academic stated.

For her part, Estefanía Leal González, legal director of the Mexican Association of Shipping Agents (Amanac) , noted that more than 80% of Mexico’s international trade moves by sea, making ports key drivers of investment, employment, and competitiveness.

However, female representation continues to be concentrated mainly in administrative and corporate areas, while participation in port operations, technical engineering and cargo handling remains limited.

Digitalization, decarbonization and nearshoring demand new talent

The panelists agreed that the technological and logistical transformation of the maritime sector opens an unprecedented opportunity to incorporate more women into strategic areas.

Estefanía Leal highlighted that the industry is undergoing an accelerated transformation driven by digitalization, automation, artificial intelligence, sustainability, decarbonization, and cybersecurity.

“In this evolution, female leadership is no longer complementary, it is strategic to build a more competitive, modern and inclusive industry,” she stated.

The Amanac representative emphasized that nearshoring represents a historic opportunity for Mexico , triggering investments, port expansion and logistical development, which demands professional profiles with a technological vision and capacity for innovation .

Along the same lines, Diana Portilla emphasized that ports have ceased to be merely points of entry and exit for goods, becoming hubs of connectivity , energy, logistical security, and regional development.

“We need more women participating in technical, regulatory, and strategic decisions. We need more women researching, operating, innovating, and leading,” she said.

The invisible barriers continue to operate

Beyond the statistics, one of the most recurring themes of the forum was the persistence of structural and cultural obstacles that continue to condition women’s professional development.

The participants spoke of discrimination, less access to management positions , unequal wages, workplace harassment, limitations on growth, and disproportionate burdens of family care.

“Sometimes women arrive in these spaces facing additional barriers: lack of representation, stereotypes, limitations on growth, and even the constant need to prove the capabilities they already possess,” Diana Portilla noted.

María de Jesús Medina warned that many women’s career paths take longer to be recognized due to interruptions associated with caregiving responsibilities and the constant demand to demonstrate “double” capabilities.

“Women continue to face discrimination, less access to leadership positions , lack of mentorship, hostile work environments, harassment, and limitations on professional growth,” added Estefanía Leal.

Maritime design also excludes

One of the most unique proposals of the forum came from Aguivar Olidel A. Vite Flores, director for Mexico of the Pan American Institute of Naval Engineering Americas and president of WISTA Mexico , of the WISTA International network , who showed how even the technical design of the vessels continues to respond to masculine parameters.

“There’s no ergonomics on the boats ,” she stated. “The captain doesn’t have a special chair; it’s a chair designed for a man.”

The specialist maintained that naval engineering and maritime design with a gender perspective will be one of the next fields of work within the Veracruzana University.

He also questioned why many inclusion policies remain more in the realm of discourse than in concrete results.

“ Structural barriers continue to hinder an integration that so far has been more rhetoric than effective,” he argued.

She also criticized the fact that in some institutions the female presence continues to be used as a decorative symbol rather than as a true professional recognition.

“Including women as a gesture, that’s what I’m seeing in many organizations,” she said.

Mexico, “with its back to the sea”

Another recurring concern was the lack of maritime culture in Mexico and the limited visibility of the sector among new generations.

“Mexico lives with its back to the sea,” Vite Flores stated, questioning the limited promotion of maritime and naval careers in the country.

The academic explained that, together with colleagues from the University of Veracruz , she promoted a maritime culture and education project since 2014 that finally managed to incorporate maritime content into national textbooks in 2025.

“We are a maritime country. The sea awaits us , let us act,” he said.

Specific legislation for the sector is lacking

Another point of consensus at the forum was the need to move towards regulatory frameworks and specific public policies for the maritime sector.

María de Jesús Medina pointed out that, although Mexico has general laws on equality and non-discrimination, there is still no specialized legislation to address the particular problems of women in the maritime industry.

The researcher noted that international instruments such as CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and various IMO resolutions already include guidelines related to equality, working conditions and safety for women in the sector.

Networks, mentoring and new generations

The panelists agreed that support, mentoring, and professional networks will be key to accelerating the incorporation of women into the sector.

The IMO’s global strategy for 2024-2029 is based precisely on three pillars: training, visibility and recognition .

In addition, the role of organizations such as WISTA International and WISTA Mexico was highlighted , as well as regional WIMAS networks present in more than 152 countries.

“Today, factors such as education, mentoring , and networking are fundamental to expanding women’s access to training, maritime technology, and decision-making spaces,” said Estefanía Leal.

Vite Flores called for abandoning the “imposter syndrome” and understanding that female visibility also implies becoming a role model for other generations.

“We are all important, we are all valuable, and all people have the same value, men and women,” she said.

At the close of the forum, it became clear that the challenge for the Mexican maritime industry is no longer simply about creating opportunities, but about transforming the structures that have historically limited women’s access to operations, decision-making, and leadership. In a sector pressured by digitalization, decarbonization, and global logistics reconfiguration, the panelists agreed that the future competitiveness of the maritime-port system will also depend on its ability to incorporate more female talent at all levels of the supply chain.

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The “Made in Mexico” label has fully entered the realm of logistics and maritime services, a sector historically neglected in industrial policy discourse but crucial to the country’s competitiveness. The Mexican Association of Shipping Agents (Amanac) and shipping agencies Intermodal México , Cosco Shipping Lines México , Representaciones Transpacíficas (Transpac) , and Meximares received this recognition from the Ministry of Economy , in a ceremony that sought to redefine the role of the shipping sector within the country’s brand and the national production network.

From the industry’s perspective, the message was clear: bearing the “Made in Mexico” seal implies a responsibility that transcends corporate image. Fernando Con y Ledesma, president of Amanac, emphasized that it’s not just an advertising tool, but a collective commitment . “It’s not simply about using a slogan or an image for advertising purposes. I believe it goes beyond our stationery or our production projects,” he stated, stressing the need to build a strong community capable of instilling confidence in national and international consumers.

Along the same lines, the leader emphasized the importance of changing the narrative about the country and its logistical performance: “We must convey that what is Made in Mexico is very well made ,” a statement that aims to position the shipping sector as a guarantor of quality, compliance, and professionalism in Mexican foreign trade.

From the Ministry of Economy, the event was used to articulate the distinctive mark within a framework of sectoral coordination. Gertrudis Mercado, Director General of Light Industries, explained that there is an institutional mandate to link strategic sectors, recognizing the cross-cutting role of maritime transport in the movement of goods and in connecting key industries . “We are committed to all chambers of commerce and all companies related to this (maritime) sector because it is very important,” she stated, emphasizing the need to strengthen dialogue and institutional collaboration.

The structural dimension of the sector was reinforced by Julio César Sánchez Amaya, Director of Permits for the Export Control System, who emphasized the operational weight of shipping agents in the national economy . “They handle 99.9% of what arrives by ship to our country,” he stated, highlighting that their work directly impacts supply, the movement of goods, and the daily functioning of foreign trade.

The Made in Mexico brand was thus presented not only as a mark of origin, but also as an economic policy tool. Bárbara Botello, the brand’s coordinator, positioned the shipping sector as “the backbone of foreign trade, national logistics, and the integration of our value chains worldwide,” noting that more than 80% of international trade moves by sea .

In his remarks, Botello expanded on the symbolic and strategic significance of the recognition: “The shipping companies receiving this certification today are not just transporting goods; they are transporting trust, compliance, and Mexico’s reputation in every port they visit.” Under this vision, the distinction becomes a guarantee of professionalism and responsibility to clients, business partners, and authorities worldwide.

The closing of the event was marked by a broader institutional perspective. Andrea Genoveva Solano Rendón, head of the Regulations, Competitiveness, and Competition Unit, emphasized that the recognition of Amanac is part of a public policy focused on tangible results for citizens . She highlighted that the maritime sector is a key element for the country’s competitiveness and that the association has been a benchmark for its role as a bridge between businesses and government authorities.

Solano Rendón emphasized that the strength of the sector lies not only in the volume it moves – “you represent 95% of the ships that arrive at Mexican ports” – but in the quality of its processes, regulatory certainty and constant training , factors that allow it to generate confidence in the markets and attract investments.

Thus, the inclusion of the shipping sector in the Made in Mexico seal marks a turning point. The recognition is no longer solely associated with manufactured goods, but extends to strategic services that support supply chains. For Amanac and the distinguished shipping agencies, the emblem not only validates their track record but also establishes a commitment: to make maritime logistics performance a central tenet of Mexican competitiveness in global trade .

According to data from the Ministry of Economy, by the end of 2025 the “Made in Mexico” label had been awarded to more than 4,000 companies and more than 6,000 products . This label “recognizes entrepreneurship, micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and large companies that meet high quality standards, contribute to economic growth and increased regional and national competitiveness, strengthening consumer confidence in products made in Mexico,” according to the federal agency.

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Contecon Manzanillo (CMSA) , a port terminal operator, announced the addition of the new WSA2 maritime service, operated by WAN HAI Lines . This new route represents a step forward in the port’s international connectivity , expanding logistics options for Mexican foreign trade.

“The arrival of the WSA2 service at our terminal represents another milestone in our expansion and consolidation strategy as a key logistics hub for international trade. This project is part of the terminal’s growth, which began in late 2022 and we are moving forward with the clear goal of completing by 2026. At Contecon Manzanillo, we remain firmly committed to offering world-class infrastructure and efficient logistics solutions for global shipping companies and our customers,” said José Antonio Contreras, CEO of the operator.

The WSA2 service officially began operations with the arrival of the 335-meter-long WAN HAI A16 vessel at CMSA’s facilities on August 11.

The service, also known as ASA, is part of an alliance between WAN HAI Lines (WHL), Pacific International Lines (PIL) , Evergreen Marine Corp (EMC) , and COSCO Shipping Lines . The joint rotation includes 11 vessels : six provided by WHL; three by PIL; one by EMC; and one by COSCO, all with state-of-the-art technology and extensive container cargo capacity.

The WSA2 will operate with a weekly call, connecting the ports of Kaohsiung, Shekou, Hong Kong, Ningbo, Shanghai, Manzanillo, Lázaro Cárdenas, Puerto Quetzal, Buenaventura, Callao, Guayaquil, and returning to Kaohsiung. This operation represents an improvement in logistics coverage between Asia and the west coast of South America .

The collaboration between Contecon and WAN HAI Lines will improve the connection between Asia and the west coast of Latin America, and customers will benefit from more direct routes, shorter transit times, and optimized operating costs.

On August 9, President Claudia Sheinbaum visited the port of Manzanillo to oversee the progress of its expansion, a project that includes a total investment of 78 billion pesos (mdp) .

Of this amount, 63 billion pesos will be allocated to the construction of port terminals, while 15 billion pesos will be used to modernize highways. The project has the support of the Navy , which is responsible for managing the port.

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Admiral Luis Javier Robinson Portillo Villanueva, general director of Asipona Ensenada, stated that the 98.7-kilometer (km) Tecate-El Sauzal railroad needs to be developed for general cargo transportation and tourism services.

“It represents a strategic transportation route for improved economic development in a shorter timeframe. Considering the different modes of transportation—sea, air, land, and rail—to move goods, it will optimize costs, time, and efficiency,” he said.

During the panel Modernization of the Port of Ensenada, the Railroad and Beyond that took place in the first edition of the  Transportation and Logistics Meeting (ETYL) CALI-BAJA 2025 , he reiterated that it is necessary to consolidate this new infrastructure in the future because it would be the best option to transport cargo, since land transport will be insufficient.

“Once El Sauzal exists, it’s important to have a consolidated multimodal transportation system to improve communication and freight transportation; it’s the best logistical solution,” he said.

Roberto Romandia, CEO of Baja Railway, agreed that a port cannot fully develop without the support of a railway. “We are an extremely important part of the logistics chain, economically, safely, and affordably. Once we integrate maritime, customs, rail, and wheeled transport, we will be integrating everything necessary into the supply chain to be more efficient, productive, and safer for all future projects.”

He specified that the train currently runs from San Isidro to Tecate with 71.4 km of track, but once this Asipona project is integrated, there will be nearly 200 km of rail track.

For his part, Javier Rodríguez, general manager of Ensenada International Terminal , mentioned that the group’s vision was to invest heavily in Ensenada, “because it is a very kind port.”

He explained that they recently made an investment of more than 150 million dollars , resources that allowed them to carry out the extension of the yard and acquisition of port equipment that allowed them to increase their static capacity by more than 50% and a dynamic capacity of 800 thousand TEU (20-foot containers), and the length of the dock from 300 to 600 meters.

“We’ve diverted cargo from Los Angeles and Long Beach, but they move 19 million TEUs a year, and we’ll have a field day if we reach 500,000. So, yes, we’ve diverted cargo, but I think we can divert a lot more and they won’t even realize it, and maybe they’ll even be grateful, because they go there and they’re always very saturated,” he said.

Mateo Cepeda Jaramillo, Sales and Logistics Manager for Cosco Shipping Lines , noted that the shipping company has accumulated nearly 600,000 TEUs of cargo at the port of Ensenada since its arrival at this facility; and in 2018, they launched their first exclusive service.

“Cosco saw the region’s capabilities and vision, made a significant investment, and thank God we’ve become the leading shipping company in the port right now,” he said.

Portillo Villanueva also commented that the modernization includes the expansion of the basin from 450 meters in diameter with a depth of 14.5 meters to 550 meters in diameter and also an expansion of the approach and secondary channels that require 700 million pesos, in addition to a multipurpose facility, the construction of a tourist marina that will be 150 million pesos, a cruise terminal with two billion pesos, among other projects that total 4.29 billion pesos.

He indicated that the investment for El Sauzal is 4.985 billion pesos to construct the 4 km of breakwater and also a social project.

Meanwhile, private investment will include the specialized container terminal, a multipurpose terminal for general cargo, bulk cargo, and fluids and petroleum products, which will require an investment of 22 billion pesos.

“By 2040, with all the planned development, we will have 1.5 million TEUs. To address the issue of moving containerized cargo, we are planning to expand the bypass by 24 km and also connect it to all highways in the region along the Ensenada-Tijuana stretch,” he explained.

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On November 10, the seventh edition of the Contecon Manzanillo Race for a Cause will take place , an event that has gained prestige for its commitment to the community and its positive impact on the local educational infrastructure.

The organizers revealed the details of the event at a press conference, which aims to promote the sporting spirit of the population and contribute to the development of the city, allocating 100% of the funds raised through registration to charitable work in support of education.

During the event, all residents of Manzanillo were called upon to participate in the race, which, in addition to being a healthy competition, is a recreational opportunity for families .

The press conference was attended by: José Antonio Contreras, CEO of Contecon Manzanillo ; Francisco Santana, operating director of the seventh Race with a Cause; César Romero, CEO of CIMA Group ; Carla Román, representing Woodward Logistics ; Yohana Huezo, representing Tap Terminal ; Fu Hua, general director of COSCO Shipping Lines .

“We thank all the companies that have supported us from the beginning and the large foreign companies that have joined, recognizing the importance of these events for one of the most important ports in the country, such as Manzanillo. It is an honor for us to organize this race, which promotes sport and strengthens our community. In addition, this year we will launch an exclusive challenge for sponsors, as a recognition of their essential collaboration, which is key to the success of this sporting event,” said José Antonio Contreras, CEO of Contecon Manzanillo.

In this edition of the race, approximately 316,200 pesos will be awarded in prizes to the winners of the different categories. This event has attracted people from other states, which contributes to local tourism. This year, it is expected to exceed the amount raised in 2023. The funds obtained through registrations will be used to remodel classrooms, build breakfast areas, rehabilitate lighting, and other improvements in basic education facilities in the region.

“We hope to surpass last year’s goal, which in 2023 raised 1 million 643 thousand 877 pesos ,” said Francisco Santana, operational director of the Contecon Race for a Cause.

The race is designed so that people of all ages can participate, providing a healthy and enriching experience.

“This collaboration is very important for us. We want to increase this type of partnership in the business field to jointly transmit values ​​to society,” said Fu Hua, general manager of COSCO Shipping Lines.

“We have a common purpose and mission: to contribute to promoting the values ​​of sport in the family and education in Manzanillo. We hope that more and more people will join us to continue promoting these values, which will contribute to the education of children and young people, who will be the future entrepreneurs who will run our great port,” said César Romero, CEO of CIMA Group.

Carla Román, from Woodward Logistics, and Yohana Huezo, from Tap Terminal, highlighted that these types of events promote sports and leave a positive impact on the community and on Manzanillo. They stressed that the most important thing is education, and extended an invitation to join, thanking the organization for making them participate in this noble cause.

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A high demand for space on container ships on the Asia-South American west coast-Mexico trade route is causing an incessant rise in maritime freight prices , despite increasing the capacity of shipping lines week after week, according to the EAX index, from Eternity Group Mexico .

The freight forwarder firm indicated in its monthly report that during May of this year the freight price rose to five thousand 140 dollars per 40-foot container (FEU) on average , an increase of 55.57% compared to the immediately previous month. .

“The severe shortage of containers, especially 40-foot containers, has been one of the main arguments for shipowners to successfully deploy GRI (general rate increase) of approximately $500 per container, week by week,” according to the company of Chinese origin.

In the first four months of this year, Mexican Pacific ports had operated a total of 845,370 20-foot containers (TEU) in import services , mainly from Asia, 18.4% more than in the same period of a year. year before, according to data from the General Coordination of Ports and Merchant Marine (CGPMM) , of the Ministry of the Navy .

Eternity Group México indicated that, given the increase in freight rates, from the importing point of view, the challenges are accentuated between greater complexity to obtain confirmation of space (even paying market rate); longer transit times resulting from high congestion in Asian ports ; volatile exchange rate due to election day, which causes an increase in the payment of tariffs and increases of 70% in logistics costs during the last year (May 2024 vs. May 2023).

Likewise, he recalled that as a consequence of the strong demand in the trade lane , during May different shipowners deployed three new services to capitalize on the high levels of import volume: CMA CGM (M2X) with eight vessels with a capacity of 4,200-5,000 TEU approximately, an exclusive service for Mexico; MSC (Santana) with 13 ships with a capacity of approximately 13,000-15,000 TEU; and COSCO Shipping (WSA5 – irregular service) with eight vessels with a capacity of approximately 4,000-6,000 TEU.

“During the month of June we maintain our bullish outlook considering rates that will be above $7,500 per container, despite the fact that the trade-lane will be receiving greater space capacity (approximately +50 thousand TEU),” according to with the report.

In addition, he recommended carrying out advance planning in import operations , to reduce the impact in terms of logistics costs and, in case of having critical operations, he suggested not speculating on logistics costs when the market is on the rise.

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Ensenada, B.C. – COSCO Shipping Lines revealed the importance of Mexico for its maritime business. The Chinese shipping line inaugurated its new direct service (WSA5) between Asia and the Latin American country last week, aiming to improve transport times for the growing wave of imported goods from the Far East that have been registered in the Mexican market.

The WSA5 rotation, on a weekly basis, includes calls to the Asian ports of Busan (South Korea), Dalian, Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo (China), and Yokohama (Japan); while in Mexico it will call at the ports of Ensenada, Manzanillo, and Lázaro Cárdenas.

“It reflects the attention COSCO Shipping is giving to the Mexican market as a growing market that is bringing many opportunities. At the same time, the Mexican market has limited logistical resources, so COSCO Shipping intends to deploy its resources in Mexico to help solve these challenges,” Fu Hua, general manager of COSCO Shipping Lines Mexico, told T21.

The executive described that the company seeks to expand its “door-to-door” coverage, deploying greater capacity in ships to connect and serve these markets (Asia and Mexico), as well as strengthening cooperation with its partners in the most important Mexican ports, precisely to develop integrated solutions for its clients, exploring deeper cooperation opportunities and strengthening its land service resources by reaching strategic partnerships with local providers.

Official data indicates that from January to April 2024, Mexican ports handled just over 2.9 million 20-foot containers (TEU) in import services, representing an increase of 17.7% compared to the same period in 2023. Specifically, Pacific ports, mostly receiving imports from the Far East, saw an 18.9% growth.

“We are working to provide solutions and facilitate inland cargo movement in Mexico in cooperation with our various partners, introducing special services such as unit train delivery, fast delivery with exclusive pickup, and road transport,” said Fu Hua.

Platform for Mexican Exports

COSCO Shipping Lines’ new WSA5 service also offers an alternative for Mexican exporters looking to timely place their products in Asian markets. For example, Bachoco, a food production company, ships at least 2,500 tons of products to Japan monthly, requiring space for about 320 to 350 containers.

“We hope this new route will help us attract more customers and reach more destinations in Asia due to the competitive transit times it offers,” said Oswaldo Chariva, Export Manager of Bachoco, in an interview with T21.

A similar case is APLO, a Mexican freight forwarder, which seeks to reserve about 140 container spaces monthly to export its clients’ products such as grapes, nuts, cherries, zucchinis, avocados, and lemons, among other fresh products.

“Transit times for our goods are crucial,” said Adrián Pérez, General Director of APLO.

COSCO Shipping Lines’ WSA5 joins the transpacific service offerings between Asia and the west coast of Latin America (WSA) that the shipping line has been operating for several years, amid the increase in trade exchanges between these two regions of the world.

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