(Juneau, Alaska) – Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) has joined forces with Women Offshore, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting gender diversity and inclusion in the maritime industry. This strategic collaboration signifies AMHS's commitment to continuous improvement and fostering a more inclusive workplace environment.

Women make up 24% of the AMHS vessel staff, significantly higher than just 7.3% of credential mariners in United States, and only 1.2% of the vessel workforce worldwide. Women Offshore is renowned for its dedication to supporting diversity in maritime careers through advocacy, mentorship, and networking opportunities. By aligning with this esteemed organization, AMHS aims to tap into a wealth of knowledge and expertise to grow and empower its workforce and drive continued positive change within the organization.

"Women Offshore is thrilled to welcome Alaska Marine Highway System to our community of supporters," said Ally Cedeno, Founder of Women Offshore. "We firmly believe that a rich blend of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences is crucial for driving innovation and achieving success within the maritime industry and we look forward to working closely with AMHS to promote a more inclusive and equitable workplace for all those that work on or near the water."

Recognizing the importance of diverse perspectives and experiences, AMHS leadership saw the potential benefits this partnership could bring to the workforce and the overall improvement of processes and operations. "We are excited to join forces with Women Offshore and work towards greater inclusivity within the maritime industry," said Craig Tornga, Director of AMHS. "The insights and resources provided by Women Offshore will not only benefit our workforce but will also contribute to our ongoing efforts to improve processes and enhance the resilience of the Alaska Marine Highway System."

The 2024 Alaska Sea Summit, hosted by AMHS and Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities last week, showcased the impact of partnerships, collaboration, and challenges through discussions and panel sessions on maritime workforce development, housing needs and capital projects. Announcing the Women Offshore partnership at the event demonstrated AMHS's commitment to cultivate a culture of continuous improvement to attract and retain unique talent and perspectives of Alaska’s maritime workforce.

Learn more about Women Offshore by visiting their website: womenoffshore.org.

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities oversees 237 airports, 9 ferries serving 35 communities along 3,500 marine miles, over 5,600 miles of highway and 839 public facilities throughout the state of Alaska. The mission of the department is to “Keep Alaska Moving through service and infrastructure.”

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