WOMEN IN SHIPPING
Bridging the gender gap By Amanda Schuldt
B
C Ferries is setting an important marine industry example of how success through equal opportunity can be achieved. With a growing proportion of female captains, especially on the Southern Gulf Islands routes, BC Ferries employs a unique group of experienced and well-trained women who have been empowered by a supportive corporate culture that has focused on mentorship, training and education. The result has been greater access to senior officer levels in ship operations and management. Many of these BC Ferries captains have self-studied while balancing the demands of raising a family and acquiring enough sea time to earn their qualifications. For some of these women, their early careers involved working in an environment of prejudice, which they say is now diminishing. Here follows insight into how this distinctive group of female captains reached their goals in careers that span 10-25 years and are still going strong. Captain Tracy Fleming (Salish Raven) was invited by a friend to join a commercial fishing vessel at the age of 19. She recalls how she “fell in love with it immediately” and never left the industry. After several years of working as a deckhand aboard fishing vessels on the West Coast of B.C., she built additional sea time by working on cruise ships and Canadian Coast Guard vessels. “Women may offer a leadership style that differs from a male Captain and can help us to succeed in the role of master,” Captain Fleming speculated. “For me, it’s never been about the differences between men and women … it’s about showing women that this industry exists and that we can excel alongside our male counterparts.” Fleming never would have pursued a career in this industry had she not been introduced to it early on in life. She also credits WorkSafeBC with making it unacceptable to harass people in
For some of these women, their early careers involved working in an environment of prejudice, which they say is now diminishing. the workplace. “Definitions of harassment have expanded in the last decade to encompass things that may have made us uncomfortable in the past,” she said. “That is a challenge that no longer exists and is a breath of fresh air for the women following in our footsteps.” Fleming goes on to say that it is important to show young women that this is an industry where they can thrive. “There’s been such a huge change over the last 10 years that a lot of issues around sexism just don’t exist anymore,” she said. When considering the investment in education against the return on a future job, Captain Fleming said that “the financial commitment I had to make for my career has paid back in dividends.” She credited her success in part to people watching over her progress and putting her name forward for courses and programs. “The support, mentoring and education from both BC Ferries and BCIT Marine Campus have helped to further my career and build my leadership skills.”
Captain Nadine Fraser (Skeena Queen) is a second-generation BC Ferries captain, following in the footsteps of her father. She first worked in the terminal catering department at BC Ferries during summer months. When asked by someone who knew her father if she would also be a Captain one day, she replied “sure, why not?” Captain Fraser explained that she saw what a great career it could be. “It’s fun, active and never the same day twice. That was appealing for me,” she said, further noting that BC Ferries is “an active and dynamic workplace.” While juggling a young family of four, she self-studied to earn her qualifications. “I had the support of my co-workers, my family and especially my Marine Superintendent, Captain Lewis MacKay, who was hugely influential in activating my progression. Becoming a Captain is a partnership on every level, both at home and at work.” In terms of being in a minority, Fraser pointed out that gender was irrelevant.
BC Ferries’ captains (left to right): Captain Lynn Steiner, Captain Michelle Letourneau, Captain Samantha McCandlish and Captain Tracy Fleming. October 2017 — BC Shipping News — 39