18 May 2026
International Day for Women in Maritime Celebrated at Portonovi
On the occasion of the International Day for Women in Maritime, the event “She and the Sea” was held at Portonovi Marina in Herceg Novi, organized by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs of Montenegro and the WISTA Montenegro association, with the support of gold sponsors Portonovi, the Municipality of Tivat and Asmira Group.
The event brought together representatives of government institutions, the maritime industry, international organizations, academia and the private sector, with the aim of recognizing women whose knowledge, professionalism and dedication contribute to the development of the maritime industry and related sectors.
The International Day for Women in Maritime is observed annually on 18 May at the initiative of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). This year’s global theme, “From Policy to Practice”, was dedicated to the tangible contribution of women to the development of the maritime industry and their increasingly important role in shaping maritime policies and practices worldwide.
The program was opened by the Director General of the Directorate for Maritime Economy, Seafarers, and Regulatory Alignment Marijana Sekulovic, while representatives of institutions, international organizations and members of the WISTA Montenegro association addressed the attendees throughout the evening.
A special segment of the program was dedicated to inspiring stories of women from the maritime industry. Captain Milena Borozan spoke about her professional journey from cadette to captain position, while guest speaker Tamara Pavlović from Malta presented her impressive experiences from both, maritime and aviation industries.
The event also featured the presentation of WISTA Montenegro, the national network of women in maritime, trade and logistics, established with the support of WISTA International, the world’s largest organization for women in maritime, bringing together more than 6,000 members from over 60 countries.
Through discussions, presentations and video addresses from international representatives of the maritime community, the event once again highlighted the importance of visibility, support and professional empowerment of women in a sector traditionally dominated by men, but in which women today play an increasingly significant and influential role.
During the event, Portonovi’s Director of Marketing & Communications, Igla Gjoka, also addressed the attendees, emphasizing that supporting women and their professional development is a value deeply embedded within the company itself. She noted that women represent 37% of the company’s employees, while the majority of the management team is comprised of women, reflecting Portonovi’s commitment to fostering a modern and inclusive working environment. Gjoka highlighted that a significant part of the company’s success is owed to the women whose knowledge, leadership and dedication contribute daily to the destination development.
As a destination deeply connected to the sea, the marina and the Mediterranean way of life, Portonovi proudly supports initiatives that promote knowledge, equality, networking and the development of the maritime community, creating a space for dialogue, inspiration and meaningful connections.
