- What motivated you to pursue a career in the maritime industry?
My dream of becoming a seafarer began when I was still a child, as I had admired my father’s work as a ship’s electrician (Electro Technical Officer, nowadays) and that further fanned my passion for travelling.
- Where did you complete the training for your role?
I obtained my degree in Marine Transportation at the Technological Institute of the Philippines in Quiapo, Manila.
- How did you join the Synergy Marine Group, and what has been your experience sailing with them?
I began with the Maersk Tanker Company back in 2020 and subsequently transferred to Synergy when it took over that part of the group in 2021. While daily tasks can be tiring, and indeed sometimes gruelling, I still find myself constantly thrilled because I really, really love my job.
- Please describe a typical day on board.
During a long voyage a typical day starts with a toolbox meeting with the Chief Officer, the pumpman and other ratings, and we discuss the work to be done and job designations are given out. As an AB my duties can be hard, physically, especially when it comes to deck maintenance with chipping and painting. Other duties include segregation of garbage, cleaning and hosing down, greasing wires and valves and general housekeeping on deck, all of which usually takes about four hours, with a break about midway through. On these tasks there is usually another couple of hours of daytime overtime work, and I will probably have another four hours of lookout duty at night.
While this can sometimes be really stressful and is often exhausting, I find that rest and relaxation comes with interacting with the other crew members as we go along, and afterwards I can link up and so spend time with my family, and then always make sure that I get enough sleep. Despite the challenges, the job is really fulfilling, and I find it especially so given that, worldwide, this kind of job is still not often offered to a woman, and I also get to travel the globe at no cost.
- What are the challenges that you face in your role?
Like in any job, minor difficulties can come up and this can be challenging, especially when everyone is tired out.
However, this is a general and not a gender thing, and my experience has already shown me that socialising and listening to other people’s difficulties, as well as their beautiful experiences, can provide overall healing and harmony, as well as mending individual relationships.
- How do you handle tasks that require physical strength and endurance, such as lifting heavy objects or working in challenging weather conditions?
Perhaps my earlier work at home in planting in the rice fields and herding carabaos (a Philippines water buffalo) have honed my physical strength and allowed me to develop endurance, especially in facing difficult weather conditions. From that experience I learned that, putting it a bit poetically, by allowing myself to go with the flow of the elements I can remain upright like a reed on a stormy night. Once on board ship I follow this principle in all respects, i.e. safety in keeping good balance and alertness with whatever I am doing.
- What is the best thing about working at sea?
People have different views of course, but to me the best thing about working at sea is the rare opportunity to travel the world, experience diverse cultures and see great beauty, all for free. What I have so far enjoyed the most is encountering marine life such as dolphins and whales. Seeing these beautiful creatures in their natural habitat is a very enriching, and almost surreal, experience that not many people have. While everyone else is working hard in order to afford to travel, I have the privilege of exploring the world as part of my job.
- What is the one thing that should change to make life better on board?
Things are continually improving, industrywide, but to me the key thing is to provide ever better access to mental health resources and counselling, in order to further improve the well-being of seafarers who work tirelessly while being far from their families.
- Have you faced any particular challenges as a female seafarer?
One significant challenge that I faced came from my Dad, and maybe ironically so, as admiring him was part of my motivation. He had long been at sea himself, and was concerned about my career choice. He understood first hand the difficulties of being a seafarer, and especially that worldwide shipping was a male-dominated industry where gender biases could be prevalent and women needed to prove themselves before gaining acceptance.
True enough, it is still a male-dominated environment and gender stereotypes remain, in some people’s minds, but that did not stop me from pursuing this career because I believe that women are just as capable as men in this field and I see proving myself in what I do as part of the proof of that.
- Female seafarers are still comparatively scarce, but things are changing for the better. Do you agree?
Yes, I do.
I also think that more women will become interested in pursuing a role in seafaring as the conditions for women improve and more policies are implemented to protect against discrimination. As a student, I remember being the sole woman in my batch. I hope that young, aspiring female seafarers may find themselves with more peers than I had, so that they more easily share hardships, successes and growth.
- What are some of the advantages of having women on board?
I will boldly say that overall working and living conditions improve with women on board, and men behave better when women are living in close proximity.
I remember one colleague telling me that some men she knew rarely showered when women were not around, and (from what I have seen) for whatever reason men seem to perform general housekeeping tasks better with women about. I might be getting into gender stereotyping myself, but maybe it is simply that women are more concerned with cleanliness and ensuring a pleasant and appealing workplace. I also find that my presence can sometimes create a bit of levity, hopefully due to my jolly personality, and I think it is true everywhere that mixed gender groups interact better, so more women on board could help further improve working conditions at sea.
- What further changes do you think the maritime industry needs to make to improve gender equality and attract more women to a career in seafaring?
I think that other companies in this field should reconsider what seem to be their views of the contributions of women at sea, and so begin recruiting and accepting more female aspirants. Also, though I am not in favour of quotas or similar, the industry could consider creating more positions to accommodate women.
- What are your aspirations, and where do you see yourself in five years?
As of now my position is Able-Bodied Seaman with Synergy Group Operations Inc. with an OICNW licence, and also with 6 months experience as a Third Officer and 11 months as a Second Officer in the Philippines domestic trade. If, as I want and expect, I keep working very hard, I see myself in five years as pursuing my ultimate goal, which is to become a Captain.
- What do you do when you are ashore?
I usually spend my time experiencing different cultures, visiting famous landmarks and tasting different cuisines. My great keenness for travel propels me to see the world’s wonders during my brief periods ashore, as well as to collect coins from different countries as souvenirs.
- If you ever changed to a shore-based role, what would you miss most about working at sea?
I would especially miss the regular drills and tasks on deck that have become part of my usual routine. While these can be exhausting, they have helped me maintain a healthy and strong physique and to keep generally in good shape. I would also very much miss the bonding with my crew mates, who I have treated like family and who have likewise treated me equally and with the kindness and respect of a family member.
- Share something interesting about yourself that we might not know.
One thing is that I have some shore-based experience of ship management.
I spent two years as an Assistant Designated Person Ashore and am also a Certified Internal Auditor in ISM, ISPS and MLC. I have also had the opportunity to work directly with experts and veterans in the field, which I am very grateful for because it has helped me improve in many respects.
- What advice would you give to anyone considering a career at sea, and also to young female seafarers?
Becoming a seafarer is a rewarding yet demanding career choice that requires key attributes. Firstly, having a strong and resilient mind is crucial, due to the challenges and isolation that can come with life at sea. Flexibility is another necessity, as sea conditions, roles and schedules may change unexpectedly, so one must be able to adapt quickly and effectively.
Also, it is good always to remember that mistakes can become learning opportunities if we accept them and absorb constructive feedback.
