What sparked your interest in working as a seafarer?

My father. He is a semi-retired ship’s master, and a very skilful and knowledgeable one at that. I used to join him on board during school holidays and I loved my time on board. I would watch large vessels sail into Madang Harbour and dream that one day I would work on one of them.

Tell us about your work at sea and what you enjoy most about it.

I was recently working as third mate on one of Consort Express Line’s larger vessels and enjoyed the navigational watches most. I love the views from the bridge and putting the Rules of the Road to use for collision avoidance, although many would admit it isn’t much of a challenge here, because PNG waters are not as congested as they are in other parts of the world.

How did the Maritime Cadetships for Women program equip you for work in the industry?

The program provided the tuition for the cadet training course at the PNG Maritime College, and the partnership with the shipping companies helped us do our required sea time. The program assisted us in dealing with any issues we encountered on board or at the college during our studies and training. It also involved us in workshops not necessarily related to the industry, but to general life skills we might need. There are so many highlights from the program, but one of them for me was having the chance to sail under my father’s command on a Consort Express Line vessel. Consort had never employed females before us, but through its partnership with PacTow and Australia Awards, it employed its first ever female officers at the beginning of this year.

Were there any barriers to working toward this role as a woman in a male-dominated industry?

Yes – there were instances when I felt my job security was on the line due to harassment, but these were all dealt with. But other than that, there were just a few. We were often questioned about why we joined, almost so frequently that I would sometimes question myself whether I had made the right choice. Sometimes, the males wouldn’t trust us to do a physically strenuous task; they would quietly take it on without asking us to get involved. Even though the job is strenuous and physically challenging, it’s rewarding.

Do you still encounter barriers now?

No, I don’t. During the time I spent on board as third mate, the ship was a positive environment to work in. Yes, we have individual characters who exhibit certain disagreeable traits, but we’re all human. The work environment was positive because the males I worked with were supportive of me. They assisted me when I was unsure of something, and it was very uplifting.

Why do you think female representation is important in a crew?

I think it is important for a crew to have women in it because women usually have a different approach to bring to the table. Many of us are quite intuitive, if and when we are given a voice. Also, because the men are usually surrounded by masculine company, I’ve found when I work among them, they have felt more open to expressing themselves.

What would you say to encourage another woman thinking about becoming a seafarer?

I’m not going to water this part down – you will be expected to work on par. The sea is not for the faint-hearted, but other women have proven themselves capable of meeting and exceeding the expectations. When you believe you can do it, you can, and you will. One of the greatest satisfactions of working at sea is being able to do my job thoroughly and safely. Learn as much as you can, and when you don’t know, ask. I still make mistakes. I still don’t know a lot of things, but I’m teachable. The sea comes with a lot of unexpected challenges, but there’s always someone on board who knows how to handle them, and there will be people who are willing to help you. I would love to see more women at sea, and I certainly hope that there will be more coming. It’s not easy, but it is rewarding.

This article appeared in the September 2022 edition of DCN Magazine.