Marine Engineers

The friends are probably basing their remarks on their own prejudices on the subject. One does not necessarily have to agree with friends in order to retain friendship.

Go wherever the heart leads. If Marine Engineering beckons, so be it.

"Quiquid agas, sapiens, fortiter ex animoque"

I hope you'll follow your dreams and ignore those who say that marine engineering isn't "a good option for girls". That type of prejudice belongs on the ash heap of history.

I'm glad you've found CR4. Click here for an excellent blog entry called "What is Marine Engineering?" You might also like to join the Marine Engineering User Group here.

Good Answer, Roger. I agree that one's choice of careers should never be based on gender, only drive and ability.

Dragon

Hi Monica,

Everyone here is right. Just because you're a girl doesn't mean you shouldn't become a marine engineer. Engineering, like all other vocations, should be based on passion, interests and ability, and nothing else. I understand that sailors used to have a superstition that women onboard a ship bring bad luck; don't let that bother you. Just go for it.

However, it will be a sad loss to Chemical Engineering.

Good encouragment to our Indian girls. Hats off to you Mr.Naidu.

India's women have always displayed capability on par with its men; oftentimes more.

Kind of puts me in mind of a movie I saw once - "Bend It Like Beckham". Go for it!

Dear Monica,

I agree.. Go for it!.

I'm in the leisure marine contracting business and I have a couple of girl engineers whom we are working with at this time.

The yachting circles are less conservative than the comercial or miltary areas. The yachting industry is going through a major change in the last few years and many experienced crew are retireing early because they feel too old to upgrade to the currently required certification. This favours young mariners who still have their learning skills fully oiled.

I would suggest you get what qualifications you can in India then contact yacht crew agencies to get a job aboard a yacht to get the money you will need to attend the neccesary courses for the certificates.

My own daughter started as a deckhand and is now, at 29, a second officer aboard a yacht of 63m with 17 crew, and earning a good salary!

Best of luck, and call in if you get as far as Palma de Mallorca.

Chas

You can do whatever it is you want to do. But be advised, that you will have to work much harder than a man would because of male chauvinism. Males think that a female is not as capable as a male so you will have to prove them wrong at every step of the way. Females earn less than males in the same job and that is because of the male superiority additude. Additudes change, but ever so slowly. Best of luck in whatever you do.

Yes! That is the kind of good advise that you'll want to read; and just as quickly forget.

If success is what you seek, then it's help from others, including men, that you'll need to help you there, especially in such a career endeavor as the merchant marine. If it's a cause or a reason to fail or fall short, however, seeing discrimination and injustice everywhere is the way to go. And how can one dwell on supposed attitudes of others and not have an attitude one's self?

So just try your best for yourself and for your fellows and you will do fine. Shipboard is a place for teamwork and trust and confidence in ship mates; and they in you. Don't let excuse making and mindless parroting of what others tell you must believe be your downfall.