Wilhelmsen Ship Management has appointed South Korean Lee Eun Ran as its first female captain.
Captain Lee, 34, who has 11 years of experience at the sea, joined Wilhelmsen in 2010 as a cadet. She will take command of a pure car/truck carrier.
Wilhelmsen said it was a long journey and steep learning curve for the company to appoint its first female captain, as shipping is still a male-dominated industry and has been so for many decades.
“Shipping has been a male-dominated industry and being a seafarer once myself, I fully understand the challenges,” said Scott Ritchie, general manager of Wilhelmsen Ship Management Korea. “Acknowledging that it is not easy is the first step, and working out ways to create an environment where female cadets and officers can thrive is crucial.”
Wilhelmsen started to introduce diversity onboard vessels since 2010. It said when it started this journey, it wanted to build a strong foundation that would provide a sustainable and strong pipeline of female seafarers.
“It took us some time as we strove to establish the best practices and standardisation to change something that has been the same for decades,” said Wilhelmsen.
Lee Dae Woo — deputy general manager of Wilhelmsen Ship Management Korea said the company’s framework and support system will see more South Korean female officers advancing to senior positions.
“One key aspect we are working on is to create opportunities for female seafarers to maintain their jobs while raising children,” said Lee.
Wilhelmsen said South Korea is a suitable location for the company to grow its female seafarers to meet the global seafarer supply crunch as the country’s education system and universities support the maritime industry.
Inspiration to others
“As one of the few female captains in South Korea and the first in Wilhelmsen, I hope my achievement can inspire more female seafarers to break the glass ceiling and younger generations to consider seafaring as a career,” said Captain Lee, who graduated from Mokpo Maritime University.
Wilhelmsen said as maritime moves towards a net zero ambition and a workplace that is diverse, equitable and inclusive, it is investing in training in technical and soft skills of its seafarers to cope and adapt with the changes.
“There is not much context needed today to see that we are on the cusp of a new shipping era. Our focus is to ensure that we continue to develop competent crew that meets the requirements,” said Carl Schou, chief executive and president of Wilhelmsen Ship Management.
“I am proud and delighted to announce the appointment of Captain Lee as our first female Captain. She has proven herself as a loyal and proficient officer with a stellar track record.”
