Women enter male-dominated shipping
Welcomed with respect and recognition: Women are entering male dominated business sectors, and shipping is no exception. The professional challenges are not greater for women than for men.
DNV only has a handful of female ship surveyors and would like to have many more. The fact that women are in general regarded as being better at communicating than men is an advantage. Some people even claim that the entry of women into the male-dominated shipping environment has made the working environment more diverse and inspiring.
DNV Forum has followed four female surveyors at work in Rotterdam, Stockholm and Dalian. They are welcomed with respect and full recognition of their professional qualities.
”It’s important for DNV to have role models that show there are no boundaries preventing women from doing the job as well as men,” says Gunnar Rostad, Human Resources Director in DNV Maritime.
All these women are examples of skilled female employees who have succeeded in their fields.
“It has always been our belief that DNV is an interesting workplace for women, not least due to its international aspect, with the opportunity to work at shipyards or from a DNV station. Experience from production and service fields is often a prerequisite for achieving a career in DNV. This applies just as much for men as for women,” he concludes.
Author: Harald Bråthen
It’s my opinion that counts
“The most difficult thing about being a surveyor is far more difficult than the difficult things of being a female surveyor,” says DNV surveyor Yuri Sakurada.
“Usually I get what I want,” says Yuri Sakurada with a smile. She is a ship surveyor in Rotterdam – the world’s biggest and busiest harbour. This Japanese naval architect has found a life and a job that she enjoys.
Her colleagues and customers also like being around her. She meets people with different backgrounds – and from many cultures.
”I like this profession”. We follow her around on the Arthur-N. Chief Officer Sheldon Rodrigues has a crew of 28 from India and the Philippines. The Arthur-N carries iron ore from Brazil to Rotterdam.
“I like this profession,” says Yuri Sakurada. “The freedom to get out and meet people. To resolve real problems there and then.
I couldn’t sit in front of a PC all day. I like to be physical – to climb up ladders, tanks and machinery.”
“Wasn’t this an unconventional choice of profession for a young Japanese woman?”
“There’s no doubt about that. I’d never even heard about the company when a DNV representative visited us at Osaka Prefecture University. He talked about the certification of management systems. That fascinated me, and I contacted DNV and got my first job there. I’ve never regretted that. I’ve been allowed to grow and develop, and to experience different cultures. I’ve learned new languages and travelled around the world. I have learned Norwegian and Dutch. Now new challenges await me in France, and I have to learn French.”
Difficult to Detain a ship. “I don’t think being a woman represent a challenge.
I wouldn’t say I use my female wiles, but they do listen to me in a different way.
If my opinion is that the ship cannot sail until repairs or improvements have been carried out, then it’s my opinion that counts. It’s my responsibility to withdraw the class certificate if necessary. Naturally, it can be difficult to detain a ship when there are huge amounts of money at stake. Luckily I have two good helpers – my mobile phone and my computer.
“Now I’m ready for another newbuilding”. “I prefer ships in operation jobs, and I love to go onboard the ships, but after seven years of ships in operation in the hectic port of Rotterdam, it could be nice to have a newbuilding for a change. Then I can be the project manager and follow a ship from the drawing board until it sails on the seven seas.
I experienced this once when building an LNG ship for Knutsen OAS Shipping. I followed it from day one.
I still monitor what happens to it and I have good contact with the captain and chief officer.”
Having just turned down a flattering job offer in Japan, she is now moving to France.
“It’s too early for me to go home.
I’ve still got a lot to do in the world,” concludes Yuri Sakurada.
Breaking new ground
“We always appreciate when Sofia or Anna arrives. These DNV surveyors are professional and
experienced – and they do their job with excellence,” says Stig Johansson of Bosch Rexroth in Sweden.
Sofia Jonsson started to work for DNV as a materials inspector in 1996.
“I like this work,” she says. “This is a job with a lot of freedom. I manage my own time to a large extent and I’m also responsible for a number of regular customers.”
Specialising in materials technology
She is a graduate engineer who has specialized in materials technology. She is also holding a diploma as an International Welding Engineer.
“If you’re going to certify welding shops, it’s important that you know what you’re talking about,” she says, believing women are just as good welders as men.
She faced some scepticism when she first started as a surveyor.
“I was sent out on assignments very early on,” she says. “But after a while you build up a contact network. It took some time before I realized that you can’t be an expert in all areas. When I don’t know the answer to a question now, I say so and also say that I’ll look into it and revert.”
No two days are the same. Anna Berglund is used to getting up early. Being a DNV surveyor means “being flexible”. Reflex Industrier AB is just to the north of Stockholm, and she is going to certify the testing of TTS’s bridge indication systems. She and TTS’s Mattias Olofsson work systematically. Anna signs the papers without any comments, since the systems passed the tests.
“These tests are important. If errors aren’t discovered in time, it’s almost impossible to get everything functioning properly again,” says Mattias Olofsson.
Anna Berglund is a trained ship’s officer and sailed for five years as the first chief engineer. After six years at sea, she wanted new challenges, and a DNV surveyor recommended her to apply to a vacant position in DNV.
“Sofia is a valued colleague with a background and skills that are completely different to mine. She has probably meant the most to me as a friend and colleague of the same generation,” says Anna Berglund. As a DNV surveyor, she is “strong willed”, as her colleague Sofia Jonsson says. “Anna has no doubt also made me a bit tougher”.
Helping China build for the future
For Wang Chun Ye surveying is a tough but rewarding job. “Being a surveyor is extremely challenging
in these busy times. There is minimal respite between the newbuilds, but it is encouraging to know that, with the delivery of each ship, we are helping to build China into an important shipbuilding nation.”
Wang has been working for DNV Dalian for the past eight years, and is thus one of the “veterans” on the team there. She is a welding engineer and non-destructive testing specialist.
“It takes some time to become familiar with the work environment and requirements at the yards, but when you get used to it, the job is very rewarding,” says Wang. “You get to use your technical know-how and also your diplomatic skills as you are the middle-person between the yard and the owner when the ship is being constructed.”
Formal and informal surveys.
Wang carries out formal surveys to confirm each stage of the steel fabrication. She explains. “While I verify the quality of the welding process, scantling checks must also be made to confirm that the correct plate thickness and structural arrangements have been implemented. I also carry out informal surveys of work in progress to make sure that the fabrication is being undertaken in accordance with the class requirements.”
As the Chinese shipbuilding express is building up steam, Wang has no doubts about China’s future role in global shipping. “There is ongoing development and fundamental change at most Chinese shipyards and I firmly believe they will expand their capacity and win the confidence of even more overseas owners in the future.”
Author: Stuart Brewer日付: 20 December 2005
