Synergy Group is rolling out new tailor-made personal protective equipment (PPE) to its growing number of female seafarers.
The Singapore ship manager, with a fleet of more than 540 vessels and a roster of 20,000 crew members, said it had commissioned Hercules Safety to manufacture the gear to the highest specifications.
The PPE was designed by textile engineers in conjunction with female seafarers and maritime safety experts, to ensure the final cut maximised comfort and versatility.
The durable cotton fabric comes with 3M reflective strips to increase visibility in all maritime working environments.
The PPE is being distributed as port calls allow. This involves more than 60 Synergy-managed ships on which female seafarers work.
Synergy master Radhika Menon, winner of the 2016 International Maritime Organization award for exceptional bravery at sea, said: “These new coveralls are a great fit and super-functional: breathable, weatherproof, lightweight and comfortable.
“The fabric is suitable and protective for the bridge and for the engine room where it gets hot. It’s also resilient, just like our seafarers; a quality we are happy to celebrate as International Women’s Day draws near. This new PPE enhances safety, which is always Synergy’s priority.”
Chief officer Reshma Murkar said the design sent a positive message about equality to the maritime community: “To be 100% work-fit, we need the best fit, and that is what we have now.”
Previous designs were aimed at men
And third officer Noopur Mohire explained that many seafarer products are designed with men in mind, rendering them ill-fitting for women.
“Synergy prioritises crew safety and this new PPE clearly offers that,” she said.
“But it’s also very comfortable to wear and I’m glad female seafarers were consulted during the design process by Hercules Safety.
“I’ve got plenty of pockets to carry my tools, but not too many that they are a hazard. I can move around easily, and I’ve got protection when I’m on deck conducting duties.”
As part of its diversity drive, Synergy already runs its own Chakra Scholarship scheme that enables pupils aged 14 or 15 years to begin training for the industry.
Captain HS Swaminathan, chief operating officer of crew management, said the number of women Synergy employs at sea has been growing.
“Making sure they have comfortable PPE designed to the highest safety and functional standards is, of course, a foundational but critical part of that process,” he added.
