SMART-C Women 25 AUGUST 2026 25 AUG 2026

Three women awarded SMART-C fellowships to study at World Maritime University 

Three maritime professionals from Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Vanuatu have been awarded fully funded fellowships under the IMO–Republic of Korea SMART-C Women Project to begin Master of Science programmes at the World Maritime University (WMU) in Malmö, Sweden, in September 2026.

The fellowship recipients are:

Ms. Esther Ken, Marine Pollution Officer, Vanuatu Maritime Safety Authority;
Ms. Mary Lenorah Kalebo, Ship Registration Officer, National Maritime Safety Authority, Papua New Guinea; and
Ms. Lurence Villacorta Carace, Officer-in-Charge, Financial Services Division, STCW Office, Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Philippines.

All three women previously completed the SMART-C Women Training Programme, which combined online learning with in-person training in Busan, Republic of Korea. The programme covered maritime digitalization, decarbonization and gender equality.

From training to action

For Ms. Ken, the training highlighted the potential of digital technologies to support Small Island Developing States.

“The programme strengthened my awareness of how digital technologies can improve maritime safety, pollution monitoring, regulatory compliance and operational efficiency, particularly for Small Island Developing States such as Vanuatu,” she said.

“My long-term goal is to strengthen Vanuatu’s maritime policies and promote sustainable operations, while encouraging more women and young professionals to enter the field.”

Ms. Kalebo has already applied the training at the National Maritime Safety Authority, strengthening governance of data in the Papua New Guinea Ships Register, standardizing ship registration procedures and supporting the Maritime Single Window Gap Analysis.

“My ambition is to help position Papua New Guinea as a respected and digitally enabled maritime administration that delivers safe, secure, environmentally sustainable and customer-focused maritime services,” she said.

At WMU, Ms. Kalebo intends to deepen her expertise in maritime law, digital governance, and environmental sustainability. She aims to advance a paperless Ship Registry and establish a structured mentorship programme for future maritime leaders.

Ms. Carace will pursue the MSc in Maritime Affairs, specializing in Maritime Education and Training. She said the programme had reshaped her understanding of digital transformation “as a strategic enabler of transparency, regulatory compliance, safety and evidence-based decision-making.”

Following graduation, she hopes to contribute to the modernization of the Philippine maritime education and training system and, through Women in Maritime Philippines (WIMAPHIL), to mentor future professionals and promote inclusive leadership.

“I see the WMU Fellowship not simply as an academic achievement, but as a responsibility – an opportunity to return with renewed knowledge and a stronger commitment to a more innovative, sustainable and inclusive maritime sector,” Ms. Carace said.

About the SMART-C Women Project

Funded by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea, and implemented by the International Maritime Organization, the SMART-C Women Project promotes gender equality in the maritime sector across five Asian and five Pacific beneficiary countries. It supports women’s career development through four pillars:

comprehensive online and in-person training to strengthen professional competencies;
fully funded fellowships for postgraduate study at WMU or the IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI);
global networking initiatives to support international collaboration and knowledge-sharing; and
pilot consultancy projects supporting national master plans on women’s empowerment in the maritime sector.

Find out more about the programme: SMART-C Women : SMART-C Projects