DÖHLE Group, a German shipping company, focuses on the holistic well-being of seafarers and is dedicated to gender equality and sustainable development.

Johann Diercks, managing director of Döhle Schiffarts-KG, said: “We are committed to strengthening our Filipino community of seafarers and families, ensuring that they continue to play a vital role in our company’s future.”

Döhle Group is breaking new ground in promoting gender diversity in the maritime industry. Diercks, an advocate for gender equality in the workplace, revealed the company’s preparations to introduce female cadets and seafarers into its growing workforce.

“We have always considered having female seafarers, but it takes more than our desire to aptly make this happen. For years, we have been ensuring that when female seafarers board our vessels, our ships are also ready and well-equipped to accommodate them and that their needs are safely met,” he said.

Döhle Seafront, the Philippine manning arm of the group, is spearheading initiatives that epitomize a commitment to the comprehensive well-being of Filipino seafarers and their families. The inaugural National Family Day on Nov. 17, 2023, at Döhle Haus Manila, underscores the unwavering trust between the German shipping giant and its Filipino workforce. Attended by 80 crew members and 85 family members, National Family Day is a testament to Filipino seafarers’ pivotal role in the maritime industry.

Döhle Seafront’s Family Program, in collaboration with nonprofit organization Educhild Philippines, offers a parenting course covering vital topics such as transnational parenting and financial investment. This program exemplifies the company’s holistic approach to supporting its workforce and their families.

At the onset of the pandemic, Döhle Seafront diversified its Family Program by creating sustainable, localized community units called “Döhle Seafront Family Hubs” in key cities, including Iloilo, Cebu, Bohol, Davao, Batangas and Cavite.

Lawyer Iris Baguilat, president of Döhle Seafront, said: “We believe that strong family units are essential to the well-being of our seafarers. We have always been dedicated to helping our seafarers strengthen their family units, true to our commitment to German Precision + Filipino Heart.”

Strategic partnerships fortify Döhle Group’s journey toward sustainable development.

Collaborating with the International Maritime Employers’ Council since 2018, the German shipping company sponsors the training and education of maritime cadets at the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific. This aligns seamlessly with the group’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

In 2015, Döhle Seafront embarked on a groundbreaking partnership with the Dualtech Training Center Foundation Inc. to provide scholars from marginalized communities with working opportunities at sea as engine ratings.