WHY DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION MATTERS

Stena Line is driving diversity and inclusion forward with its People Sustainability Roadmap at the top of the agenda.

To fully understand what we mean by diversity and inclusion, let’s first look at each term separately. Diversity is the existence of differences between our identities, experiences, and perspectives. Inclusion is all about celebrating these differences, looking at how they can help us to work productively, build positive relationships and learn from each other.

Why do we talk about diversity and inclusion together? We think that this quote sums it up nicely: “if diversity is the party, then inclusion is being invited to dance”.

There are obvious benefits to making people feel valued, included and treated fairly. However, when we look at history, people have repeatedly been discriminated against for all sorts of reasons, for instance their gender, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Today, these inequalities continue, which is why it is vital that companies like Stena Line work together to change the patterns created by historical barriers.  

With a shortage of skilled labour within the shipping industry there is currently fierce competition for talent. Therefore, now more than ever it is vitally vital important that companies like Stena Line provide an attractive place for ALL young seafarers to work and develop successful careers.

In order to succeed in growing a more diverse culture we hope to recruit more women, and promote them to senior positions. Gender equality is one of our focus areas within our People Sustainability Roadmap, which outlines that 30% of all managers, on all levels of the Company, will be women by the end of 2022. 

In a sector where only 2% of the 1.2 million seafarers worldwide are women this is an ambitious target that lays down a challenge for other companies to try to emulate.

A GREAT EXAMPLE OF STENA LINE’S DIVERSITY EFFORTS CAN BE SEEN ON THE IRISH SEA, WHERE ONE OF COMPANY’S LARGEST VESSEL’S, THE STENA ADVENTURER, HAS AN ALL-FEMALE BRIDGE CREW. THE TEAM IS LED BY MASTER LYNETTE BRYSON.

We are very proud to announce that Lynette has been offered and accepted a permanent position of Master. Stena Line’s first female Captain!

33 year old Lynette is Night Master on the Adventurer, which serves our busy Holyhead – Dublin route. Since joining Stena Line in 2017 she’s has worked herself through the ranks, gaining four promotions as a result of her professional, dedicated and diligent approach to her key leadership on the vessel.

SfärNytt caught up with Lynette to get her reaction to this prestigious appointment. “I am incredibly proud to be sailing as Master on the Stena Adventurer, and as the first female Master at the company, this could not have been done without the support of my colleagues at Stena Line”, said Lynette. 

“As a young woman I always dreamt of a career at sea and never thought I could ever achieve being a Captain. I hope my position can encourage more young women to follow my path and have a successful maritime career” she added.

Someone who is equally as proud of Lynette’s successes, is the Senior Master of Stena Adventurer, John Hambley Jones, who said: “This is a great team and a real inspiration for other women in our company, as well as the whole industry. A very proud moment for all onboard the Stena Adventurer”.

Stena Line’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is being driven from the very top of the company. The last word should, therefore, go to Margareta Jensen Dickson, Chief People and Communications Officer, who stressed the importance of greater diversity to the future success of the company: “The shipping sector is in a jobs’ crisis and it is one of the biggest issues Stena Line has ever faced. But there is a simple solution, which is to encourage more women to work in shipping. Maritime roles can no longer be seen as a male domain. With the appointment of Lynette Bryson as our first female Captain we have shown that women can and will succeed at sea and Stena Line will be here to support them”.

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