Transport Minister Jone Usamate says it’s important to recognize women who are seafarers.

Addressing the International Seafarers Day Celebration at the Maritime Academy, Usamate urged young women to embrace this profession.

With more importance being placed on our Maritime region, Usamate says this provides opportunities for women to become seafarers.

“They play a very important role and they work in tiring conditions and its great to see that there is a focus on female seafarers. Of the twenty-three thousand or so in the world we have 91 here in Fiji. The lady who was an MC is very highly qualified and obviously there’s avenues for them to climb to the top of their chosen profession.”

For these young women, a career at sea is something they’ve longed for:

“This is a male dominated field and its usually ruled by male so to see females making a stand and having a voice and actually be given the opportunity to take part in something as historical as this is amazing.”

“Its empowering to see an institution and an organization such as this looks out for us and recognizes women.”

“Being one of the first batch is really an honor and getting into the navy was one of my dreams.”

Usamate adds there shouldn’t be any barriers to stop anyone, especially women, from joining the academy to train as seafarer.

“We need to make sure that that happens. Eliminate any barriers and there shouldn’t be any gender discrimination in whatever profession anybody chooses. Today is a day for our seafarers and God Bless our Seafarers.”

Of the twenty-three thousand female seafarers in the world, 91 are from Fiji, including Captains and other ranks.