The 18th of May is the International Day for Women in Maritime, and it is the occasion to highlight the women of the AIVP network from all over the world!
We asked them the two following questions:
- What do you like most about working as a woman in the maritime sector?
- What would you say to younger women hoping to join the maritime sector?
And here are their answers…
Satu AATRA, Planning Manager, Port of Helsinki Ltd. (Finland)
What would you say to younger women hoping to join the maritime sector?
I would like to encourage women in general to apply their knowhow to maritime sector: you are needed!
What do you like most about working as a woman in the maritime sector?
The maritime sector requires a lot of different kinds of expertise and connects experts from different professions. Understanding the sector at large and especially the dependencies between sea and land connections and operations is fascinating
Paula COPELAND, Vice President, Engagement & Sustainability, Port Saint John (Canada)
What would you say to younger women hoping to join the maritime sector?
My advice is to reach out to someone in the industry to learn about the endless opportunities either working on the water or alongside at a port or terminal.
What do you like most about working as a woman in the maritime sector?
The best things about working in the maritime sector by far are the diversity of work and the people.
Greta DELSALLE MARINI, Directrice LH PORT CENTER, Le Havre (France)
What would you say to younger women hoping to join the maritime sector?
Working in a maritime and port environment today can make sense, especially for women. It is often a very masculine world. The feminisation of these sectors, whether for technical, service or management positions, can influence its development and its overall ecological transition.
What do you like most about working as a woman in the maritime sector?
Our work at the Le Havre Port Center consists in reestablishing a link of understanding and appropriation between the citizens and their port. This sensitive and at the same time technical approach to the industrial-port and maritime universe particularly appealed to me.
Sanae EL AMRANI Directrice des Ports et du Domaine Public Maritime, Ministère de l’Equipement et de l’Eau (Maroc)
What would you say to younger women hoping to join the maritime sector?
For those who want to join the maritime sector, I would say that it is a very vast world with a panoply of colours and natural resources. It covers many diverse and itinerant areas. This can offer you many opportunities for experience and continuous learning. If you join the maritime sector, many other doors open up, allowing you to choose the career you want.
Today, after twenty years of experience in this sector, I am delighted, as a woman, to be at the top management level, in a real climate of parity and equal opportunities between women and men.
What do you like most about working as a woman in the maritime sector?
After graduating in engineering, I joined the Direction des Ports et du Domaine Public Maritime (Directorate of Ports and Maritime Public Domain) as the person in charge of the modernisation and automation of lighthouses and beacons and the renovation of port VTS, and that’s where the adventure began…
From maritime safety to discovering the sea, the coastline, biodiversity, the port industry…
The maritime sector is a very vast field, welcoming all profiles and skills. As soon as you work in it, a unique attachment is established.
Francesca MORUCCI, Head of Promotion and Public Relations office, Port Network Authority of the North Tyrrhenian Sea (Italy)
What would you say to younger women hoping to join the maritime sector?
Although women in maritime sector are empowering, there’s still lot to do to achieve a gender equality (today women represent only 1.2 % in the sector- IMO source). This is a challenge for younger women willing to join the sector but also a very stimulating one. Indeed, there’s the real possibility to participate to a changing period in the global maritime workforce in which female personal characteristics could be enhanced and facilitate not only gender equality but also a transition to a world where women will achieve more leaderships roles.
What do you like most about working as a woman in the maritime sector?
Working as a woman in the maritime sector means putting into practice each day some of “female peculiar characteristics” such as capacity of adaptation and connection attitude.
This facilitates relationships in a work that, more than others, needs flexibility and contributes to create a supportive and inclusive work environment.
Flavia Nico Vasconcelos, General Coordinator of Port’s Decentralization and Delegation, Secretary of Ports/Ministry of Infrastructure of Brazil
What would you say to younger women hoping to join the maritime sector?
The inclusion of more women in the maritime sector is important to advance in port sustainability as a place of diversity. There are still many spaces to be conquered… come on and be part of this change!
What do you like most about working as a woman in the maritime sector?
I have experienced that the presence of women and its sensitivity humanizes the maritime sector. Even though it isn’t our intention, we end up to subtly transform the culture of the maritime sector. Participating in this change is what I love most!
Natalia URRIZA, Jefe de Planeamiento Estratégico, Puerto Bahía Blanca (Argentina)
What would you say to younger women hoping to join the maritime sector?
Although it is still a 90% male dominated industry, I think it is a great challenge to be able to bring all the strengths that distinguish us as women – intuition, creativity, multi-tasking skills, the fervent desire to change the world and the concern to beautify what used to be dark, dirty and only for second class activities. It is a good time to build mixed teams where women’s and men’s strengths can be fully exploited and enhanced.
What do you like most about working as a woman in the maritime sector?
I started working at the port of Bahia Blanca 27 years ago without intending to. I had just graduated as a public accountant, and they called me to ask if I was interested in the job. At first, I said no, as it is far from the city (25 kms), there is a bad smell, and the reference to the port is not very “women friendly”. In fact, I was the first woman among 90 male dockers and the experience was fascinating! Today I love everything about the port: its strategic location, economic power and contribution to the city and region and that it is a constant daily challenge to improve.
