Standing the Watch: Navigating Motherhood and a Maritime Career

Nearly nine years had passed since her steel-toed boots last hit a steel deck. The hum of engines, the vibration of machinery, and the familiar rhythm of work at sea came rushing back like an old song she still knew by heart.

“It was like a homecoming,” Christine said. “I felt valued for my knowledge, skill, and work ethic. Yet I also felt torn between honoring my path in life as a mother. I can’t be in two places at once, and my daughter takes priority at this time. So I look to those who are ready to take my watch.”

That tension,  between the call of the sea and the call of motherhood,  is one many mariners understand all too well.

Christine’s reflection inspired her to write The Next Watch Rises, a poem honoring those who have stood the watch before her and those who will rise to take it next. It’s also a heartfelt reminder that the maritime journey often asks for both strength and sacrifice, especially for mothers working offshore.

Christine’s story echoes what many women in the maritime industry have shared through Women Offshore’s podcast series on motherhood — the struggle to reconcile two equally important identities.

In Episode 196, “Navigating Offshore Life as a Mom and Inspiring Future Mariners,” UK Ambassador Heather Enness shared how she balances a demanding offshore career with raising four children. A Deck Officer with over 14 years of experience, Heather continues to inspire the next generation through her work with the Careers at Sea Ambassador Program, proving that motherhood and maritime leadership can coexist — even if the balance looks different for everyone.

Our founder, Ally Cedeno, also explored this reality firsthand through her Pregnant Offshore Series (Episodes 101–104), where she recorded her journey while 15 weeks pregnant offshore. With honesty and vulnerability, Ally reflected on the complexities of navigating pregnancy, work, and identity — bringing a voice to an experience many mariners quietly face.

And in Episode 52, “Balancing Motherhood Offshore,” several women shared their lived experiences of motherhood at sea — from the challenges of managing breastfeeding logistics to the emotional toll of time apart. These conversations shine a light on what it truly means to create space for mothers in maritime.

Christine’s words, “I look to those who are ready to take my watch”,  remind us that supporting the next generation isn’t about stepping aside; it’s about lighting the way.

For mothers navigating the tides of career and family, that guidance often comes from community, from other women who’ve stood the same watch and faced the same storms.

At Women Offshore, we continue to amplify these stories and advocate for policies and programs that make it possible for women to thrive both at sea and at home.

Because whether on the bridge, in the galley, or rocking a baby to sleep, the next watch truly is rising, and it’s led by women like Christine, Heather, and Ally, who continue to show what strength, care, and leadership look like in every role they hold.

Listen and Learn More:
🎙️CHELSEA PATTERSON’S IMPACT ON MOTHERHOOD IN THE MARITIME INDUSTRY, EPISODE 202
🎙️Motherhood Myths or Facts? Episode 57
🎙️Motherhood & Well Control, Episode 23
🎙️JENNY CANDELARIA AND LEARNING TO LEAN IN, EPISODE 156