Women seafarers - a rare but growing cohort on the world's waterborne transportation fleet -- face inordinately tough working conditions including discrimination and sexual harassment as the maritime sector adjusts to the reality of women working alongside men, according to a new study just published by the International Labour Office (ILO). "The potential of women seafarers has, in general, attracted remarkably little attention from commentators and policy -makers", says a new study commissioned by the ILO. ( Women Seafarers - Global Employment policies and practices ) The study says women represent between 1 and 2 per cent of the world's 1.25 million seafarers serving on some 87,000 ships.