Recent Stories
Organization of Black Maritime Graduates
Get to know an organization making a HUGE impact in the maritime industry, the Organization of Black Maritime Graduates. Founded in 1994, the Organization of Black Maritime Graduates (OBMG) has improved education opportunities for underserved students seeking careers...
2021 Women in Maritime Leadership Conference
March 4-5, 2021, attend Cal Maritime's Women in Maritime Leadership Conference virtually! Now in its tenth year, California Maritime Academy's Women in Maritime Leadership Conference supports the success of women in maritime. The 2021 virtual conference will deliver a...
The Secret to Successful Mentoring in Maritime: Insights from Captain Jessie Shifalo
To reduce the gender gap, Women Offshore connects women seeking mentoring with experienced seafarers. Our mentor program, the Women Offshore MentorSHIP, virtually connects both mentors and mentees working in maritime, both onshore and offshore. This program is open to...
How to Improve Sleep Offshore: Techniques for Women Working at Sea
How to fall asleep and stay asleep - a yogic hack. When you’re offshore, your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep is dramatically impacted. Let me share some sleep tips for offshore workers. The 12 hour shifts, the night shifts, the changes of shifts half-way...
How to Combat the Bystander Effect in the Maritime Industry
On the second day of the Women Offshore Conference, a two-part workshop brought together attendees to talk about an overarching concept in the industry that does not affect just women, but all mariners; bystander intervention. Throughout the sessions, hosted by Ally...
Boosting Self-Confidence for Women in the Maritime Industry
Let’s talk about self-confidence for women offshore to achieve your goals. Think of your life as the vessel, and you have “the conn,” meaning you are in control of your vessel. What you’re not in control of are the adverse effects on the vessel; winds, currents,...
Featured Sea Stories
FROM SAILING TO CAPTAIN TO HEAD OF CUSTOMER SUCCESS AT MM-SEAS, ALLY SPEAKS WITH SARAH HIRSCH, EPISODE 167
In today's episode, Ally speaks with Sarah Hirsch, the newly appointed Head of Customer Success at MM-SEAS, the go-to provider for the Coast Guard licensing software. From sailing roots to becoming a Captain, she shares her sea stories and how she is trying to make...
CHRISTINE SHARES HER STORY OF FINDING HER VOICE THROUGH NON-CONSENT, EPISODE 166
In today’s episode, Christine speaks about finding her voice while experiencing non-consent when she was younger. She shares how important it is to find your voice and how you can achieve this. Unfortunately for most women+ working offshore some sort of unwanted...
SNEAK PEEK OF THE WOMEN OFFSHORE INCLUSION SUMMIT 2023, EPISODE 165
With the Inclusion Summit 1 week away, we wanted to give you a sneak peek of our Inclusion Summit. Inclusion refers to the practice of creating an environment where all individuals, regardless of their background, identity, abilities, or characteristics, are treated...
CHIEF ENGINEER NELLIE TORMALA SHARES HER STORY, EPISODE 164
In today's episode, Christine speaks with Nellie Tormala as she shares her story of how she found her authentic self. Nellie shares how she first came to the sea to isolate and run from her true identity as a woman. She shares about her transgender journey and how it...
SCI – PHIL AND CHRISTINE DISCUSS RESILIENCE, EPISODE 163
In today's episode, Christine speaks with Philip C. Schifflin and Christine Brunson from the Seamen's Church Institute about what they do and resilience. They discuss how they help during devastating times and when mariners need support. They highlight that resilience...
QUESTIONS WE ARE TOO AFRAID TO ASK OFFSHORE WITH MAX AND CHRISTINE, EPISODE 162
We asked YOU what questions you are too embarrassed or afraid to ask offshore. In today's episode, our Director of Career Support Programs, Christine MacMillan, and Women Offshore Ambassador Max Kantor review our questions and share their answers and experiences. They...
Navigate Your Career
2021 Women Offshore Wave Maker Award
SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATION! At the upcoming Women Offshore Conference, the Wave Maker Award will acknowledge someone in the Women Offshore Community for pursuing their career dreams, while supporting others in the industry. Last year, the Wave Maker Award was given to...
Leadership and Advocacy: Driving Change in the Maritime Industry
Content Warning: sexual assault, sexual harassment, rape In the wake of reports of sexual assault and rape in the maritime industry, particularly the account of Midshipman X, maritime leadership, academic leaders, and government officials are rightfully asking what...
How to Stand Up Against Sexual Assault and Harassment (SASH) in the Maritime Industry
Midshipman X bravely shared her sexual assault with the industry. Now, Women Offshore welcomes the maritime industry to stand up against sexual assault and sexual harassment (SASH) offshore. The conversation has ignited, and you are invited to join in on the safety of...
First10Forward Awards Grant to Women Offshore Foundation
Women Offshore to launch NEW Development Program thanks to First10Forward In 2017, First10Forward was founded by female graduates of the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), located in Kings Point, New York and commonly referred to as “Kings Point.” The...
Apply Now! Kongsberg Education Program
The Women Offshore Foundation collaborated with KONGSBERG to provide sponsored training! With an extensive portfolio of innovative and integrated products and solutions, Kongsberg Maritime is a world leader in marine technology. In 2019, the Women Offshore Foundation...
Women Offshore Conference 2021, Meet the Keynotes!
Join us for our 4TH-Annual Conference on November 5th & 12th! Let's meet virtually! For the past 4 years, we have united women from around the globe to support one another in navigating careers on the water. Last year, we saw over 300 women in attendance and nearly 30...
Podcast
WOULD YOU LET YOUR DAUGHTER JOIN THE MARITIME INDUSTRY? EPISODE 200
We're thrilled to mark our 200th episode milestone at Women Offshore with a special discussion you won't want to miss! Join our Women Offshore team, Ally Cedeno, Cassi Laskowski, and Christine MacMillan, as they dive deep into a question that sparks curiosity and...
EVA VELDKAMP AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY, EPISODE 199
Join us on today's Women Offshore podcast as we sit down with Eva Veldkamp, a seasoned maritime professional who has navigated diverse roles across the industry. Eva's career journey began aboard large container ships as a dual-licensed maritime officer, leading her...
THE ONLY WOMAN ON DECK: HEAR CASSIE MEAD’S BOLD ADVENTURES AT SEA, EPISODE 198
Join us on this inspiring episode of Women Offshore as we sit down with Women Offshore Ambassador Cassie Mead, a maritime professional who has made a remarkable journey from a small rural community in New Zealand to a successful career at sea. Cassie discovered her...
FROM SEA CAPTAIN TO INNOVATOR: THE STORY OF CAPTAIN AYSE ASLI BASAK, EPISODE 197
On today's podcast, we have the Turkey Women Offshore Ambassador, Captain Ayse Asli Basak, on the show. Ayse shares with Christine about her journey working offshore and now what her current ashore career life looks like. Ayse Asli Basak is a seasoned maritime...
HEATHER ENNESS: NAVIGATING OFFSHORE LIFE AS A MOM AND INSPIRING FUTURE MARINERS, EPISODE 196
On today's podcast, we have the UK Women Offshore Ambassador Heather Ennesss on the show. Heather shares with Christine about her journey working offshore and her journey at home while raising kids.Heather is also a proud member of the UK Careers at Sea Ambassadors...
SAL MERCOGLIANO ON THE RED SEA UPDATES, EPISODE 195
Christine has Dr. Sal Mercogliano on the podcast today. Sal is Chair of the Department of History, Criminal Justice, and Political Science at Campbell University. He is also an adjunct professor at the US Merchant Marine Academy and a former merchant mariner. He hosts...
WOMEN OFFSHORE MENTORSHIP!
Offshore Lifestyle
#IDid Get An Education: #MeToo’s Double Standard
Preface: Generally speaking, I am not a 'bra-burny' type of woman. I don't see gender. I see people. I don't see race. I see humans. In reality, I'm not a great feminist - if at all. (Maybe that makes me a great feminist, in that I'm not out to provoke or...
What to Pack for Your First Offshore Job: A Practical Guide
I began working offshore three years ago. Before my first hitch, I was pretty clueless as to what working offshore entailed. I was prepared to hop onto my first helicopter flight outfitted with my crisp, blindingly bright orange coveralls and shiny, green hardhat. ...
One Man’s #MeToo Revelation: #IDid
For one man - a fellow colleague and dear friend - this movement effectuated a visceral reaction to seeing nearly every female connection on his social media outlet, posting '#MeToo.' His post was not an admission of guilt of direct contribution to perpetuating the...
What’s on TV?
At Women Offshore, we lean into discomfort. We talk about the topics many people would prefer to ignore. Establishing boundaries with coworkers, baring our own whale's tails, and overcoming societal disapproval of raising a family while working on ships, to name a...
#MeToo in Maritime: How Women Have Been Speaking Out for Decades
Unless you've been living under a rock this past week, you've been bombarded with the latest viral, social media hashtag, #MeToo. This social media hashtag was in response to verbal coercion, sexual harassment, and rape allegations of film producer and co-founder of...
How Geologist Greg Noah Is Helping Reduce the Gender Gap Offshore
With the ever-unintended - almost severe - sternness in his gaze, Greg, ever so stoically, turned to me and announced, "Lauren, you're staying as a senior hand." His eyes began to twinkle and, as they softened, his face thawed into a collection of charmingly gleeful...
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