Diversity and Equality

Q1 What attracted you to a life as a seafarer?

Since I was little, I’ve always been curious about how ships work. Being on board a vessel with the opportunity to travel and meet people from across the world is an additional perk for me, but what motivated me the most to enter this field is my passion for learning – especially about the machinery involved in running a ship. The urge to explore fuelled my passion to pursue this profession. The more I learn about the maritime industry, the more enchanting it gets.

Q2 What attracted you to BWEK?

Can you talk about the cadet programme? The cadetship programme at BWEK highlights the importance of a good foundation from the moment you start. There’s a well-structured framework for the cadets’ career progression. The cadets’ competency development programme contributes greatly to our study, because it serves as a guide to
which areas we should focus on. Overall as a cadet, I truly feel valued in this company where everyone is treated with no bias. BW Epic Kosan lives up to its company values, and I am proud to be part of the world’s leading owner and operator of LPG carriers.

Q3 What is it like to be a female seafarer?

Being a female seafarer might be physically and mentally demanding sometimes, but we can still find a way to fulfil our duties and responsibilities. Like other seafarers, we’ve encountered various challenges, but the ability to be versatile and adaptive is not dependent on one’s sex. Overall, it’s a fulfilling experience that I hope can serve as a motivation for other women looking to enter this field.

Q4 What are your ambitions for the future?

To be a chief engineer has been my goal from the moment I entered the maritime industry. We live in an age when the world is constantly changing, and there’s no doubt that the pace of innovation is accelerating. I have a lot of things I want to learn, and knowledge is what keeps me going. I’m determined to know the ins and outs of the engineering department and the ship organisation as a whole. This eagerness and passion will be my stepping stone to becoming a competent chief engineer in the future.

Q1 What is it like to be a female seafarer?

Being a female seafarer is an empowering experience for me, as it allows me to contribute to breaking the status quo of the maritime industry. It made me realise how essential it is to determine your weaknesses – to identify the areas that need improvement, and also use your strengths to empower the people around you to achieve their
personal ambitions. As I look back, I remember how I doubted that I would be able to conquer a male-dominated industry. It also made me realise that my ‘one day’ is now ‘every day’, and I am out there facing down challenges on this long career voyage every day. With that in mind, and as an engineer in the making, I am living the journey with this thought: just because you started weak, it doesn’t mean you can’t come out strong; so take that big leap of faith, and live one day at a time.

Q2 Why is gender diversity important?

As an aspiring maritime officer in a male-dominated profession, I already knew that there were going to be challenges. I want to pave the way to making those obstacles less daunting for the generations to come. That is why it was so important for me to ensure the industry becomes more diversified. It is time to break the stigma that only men can excel at this job. Women seafarers have been proving time and again that we can do just as well in this profession. Diversity is important because it helps people to change their perspective, and it’s high time that we broke down the barriers in the maritime profession and across society.

Q3 Can you describe the culture on board? How do people make you feel at home and valued?

Life on board is challenging: most of the work requires great physical and mental strength. I realise how important it is to have crew members who aim to create a healthy working environment. I am beyond grateful that I work with senior officers who allow me to learn at my own pace, and have given me a safe space for my lapses. It makes the shipboard environment very conducive to learning

Q1 What attracted you to a life as a seafarer?

When I chose to enter the academy, it was really just to challenge myself. Throughout the years, the programme made me learn to love the journey. I just knew that the seafaring industry would open a lot of doors for me. Imagine a female seafarer navigating the world for free – making a name in a male‑dominated industry while being the best provider for her loved ones.

Q2 What attracted you to BW Epic Kosan? Can you talk about the cadet programme?

This company has so much to offer women who aspire to be a part of the maritime industry. The BWEK cadetship programme has a clear timeline, so we know exactly when we achieve each milestone. It gives us a fixed schedule on board to make sure that we have enough rest, ensuring we have the energy to perform our everyday tasks. BWEK ensures that there is always a healthy working environment for the cadets, and I am living proof of it. In my first vessel, I never felt that I was a cadet (which is the most junior rank on board). From the ratings to the officers, everyone treated me as an officer in the making. They always made me feel I had a seat at the table. It’s a home and a family I never knew I needed. With BWEK, nothing is impossible.

Q3 What is it like to be a female seafarer?

It takes a lot of effort to secure a place in this industry. You need to think hard and persevere. Given that we cannot always match a man’s physical strength, we tend to think 10 steps ahead of them to excel at our job. In my experience, instead of obsessing over the small slights that are sometimes thrown at us, we think more objectively and divert our focus onto seeing the bigger picture and getting the job done.

Q4 What are your ambitions for the future?

I want to be financially secure and have that ‘Capt.’ in my name. That’s the dream I’m striving for.

Q5 What do you like to do outside work  for fun?

I’m always looking forward to going to the crew mess for our movie time. When we’re at anchor, the crew gathers inside the mess every night to watch a movie while eating ramen or ice cream. Sometimes we have a karaoke night to release stress. If there’s good camaraderie on board, the fun will be there whether we’re working or not.

Q1 What attracted you to a life as a seafarer?

When I chose to enter the academy, it was really just to challenge myself. Throughout the years, the programme made me learn to love the journey. I just knew that the seafaring industry would open a lot of doors for me. Imagine a female seafarer navigating the world for free – making a name in a male‑dominated industry while being the best provider for her loved ones.

Q2 What attracted you to BW Epic Kosan? Can you talk about the cadet programme?

This company has so much to offer women who aspire to be a part of the maritime industry. The BWEK cadetship programme has a clear timeline, so we know exactly when we achieve each milestone. It gives us a fixed schedule on board to make sure that we have enough rest, ensuring we have the energy to perform our everyday tasks. BWEK ensures that there is always a healthy working environment for the cadets, and I am living proof of it. In my first vessel, I never felt that I was a cadet (which is the most junior rank on board). From the ratings to the officers, everyone treated me as an officer in the making. They always made me feel I had a seat at the table. It’s a home and a family I never knew I needed. With BWEK, nothing is impossible.

Q3 What is it like to be a female seafarer?

It takes a lot of effort to secure a place in this industry. You need to think hard and persevere. Given that we cannot always match a man’s physical strength, we tend to think 10 steps ahead of them to excel at our job. In my experience, instead of obsessing over the small slights that are sometimes thrown at us, we think more objectively and divert our focus onto seeing the bigger picture and getting the job done.

Q4 What are your ambitions for the future?

I want to be financially secure and have that ‘Capt.’ in my name. That’s the dream I’m striving for.

Q5 What do you like to do outside work  for fun?

I’m always looking forward to going to the crew mess for our movie time. When we’re at anchor, the crew gathers inside the mess every night to watch a movie while eating ramen or ice cream. Sometimes we have a karaoke night to release stress. If there’s good camaraderie on board, the fun will be there whether we’re working or not.