Page 38 - 2022 - Q2 - Minerva in Focus
P. 38
OUR MARITIME FAMILY Minerva Evropi
Interview with Captain Georgios C. Kiourtesis
& Cadet Afroditi Chazathanasi
Do you believe that gender balance
onboard ships will work to the ad-
vantage of the shipping industry?
Of course, there will be benefits, as in
any kind of work. In many fields, men and
women coexist at work with very satis-
factory results, which gradually begins to
exist onboard ships.
How can a ship’s master ensure
both the smooth and beneficial
coexistence of male and female
officers onboard a ship?
First, I want to mention that nothing on the
ship results from a single person’s efforts.
Smooth coexistence on board a vessel is
achieved as a team, so every individual -
man or woman - must first consider why
they boarded the ship. The only thing the
master may be able to do is to take care of
the well-being of each gender individually
according to their needs. Once again, the
master must be strict and effective in all
areas of coexistence, be it work or every-
day life.
What advice would you give young
women considering a career in the
maritime industry?
I would emphasize that professionalism
and dedication to the work onboard are
What are the most significant integral elements of seamanship. My ini-
benefits of having a woman cadet tial advice to women would be to choose
or officer onboard? a seafaring career path only if they are
truly devoted to this profession as, at
I would not say there are advantages in some point, they will inevitably be asked
this area, as training or cooperating with to set priorities between work and the
a cadet or officer are the same regardless family they will later want to create. Also,
of gender. Perhaps it changes the way you as a father and captain, I would advise
behave and communicate. One advantage young women to equip themselves with
might be women's inherent protectiveness, a lot of courage and mental strength be-
Ιnterview with being destined to become mothers, which cause leaving their family and life behind,
can bring about changes in ship safety and
not knowing when the voyage will end, is
Captain Georgios C. Kiourtsidis protection, always in terms of crew safety. very hard.
Minerva Marine
38 MINERVA IN FOCUS – ISSUE 20 / Q2 2022
