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ent together for a few days is exciting,” insists, adding, “the maritime industry is positions with quality employees.”

Ness adds. largely invisible to many in the city of Se- Still, Ness says there is much to be attle even though our industry brings $30 done. And, while she concedes that are

Women on the Water billion dollars to the state economy annu- still signi? cantly fewer women on the

We pressed Ness on the role of women ally. That disconnect the military faces is commercial waterfront, she nevertheless in the maritime industry today and what similar for the maritime industry, making ? nds herself regularly meeting female can be done to ramp up their pro? le in it all the more important that we as an in- captains, shipowners, maritime attorneys a discipline that has, forever it seems, dustry take the time to tell our story.” and engineers in the workplace. And, she been a male dominated institution. In- Ness laments (correctly), for many, the thinks the bigger challenge is elsewhere, stead, she told us, “I am proud of the decision to not go into the maritime in- saying, “I’m a ? rm believer in getting fact that I work for a company that was dustry or the military never even surfac- kids involved at a young age because I not only started 126 years ago, but was es because they do not see that it is still know how greatly it impacted me per- founded by a woman. Thea Foss, the real a relevant and viable option. Neverthe- sonally. Find ways to support school pro- life ‘Tugboat Annie’ started out with a less, she sees huge opportunities for the grams to help bring maritime into their used rowboat that she painted white with maritime industry to bene? t from transi- classrooms so students can hear about green trim (still our colors today). Thea tioning service members, many with sea the magic of the ? rst time a crewmember

Foss was successful based on her hard time that could come into commercial saw dolphins alongside. When we have work and her ability to do the job. My positions. “The unemployment rate for the opportunity to show off vessels, even advice to women – or men – that want to veterans is nearly double the national if it’s just from the pier, it gives kids the get into the maritime industry is that hard average,” she points out, adding, “Our chance to see these incredible beasts. It work goes a long way but to not be afraid industry can play a signi? cant role in will pay off for our industry in the long to ask questions or to seek out mentors.” helping these men and women get jobs, run.” Without a doubt, Caitlin Ness is

Separately, the U.S. Navy opened up while bene? ting from, and ? lling crucial living proof of that concept.

submarines to female of? cers in 2010 and this past summer, the ? rst two wom- en graduated from the Army’s elite Rang- er School. As speculation ramps up as to which portions of the military will open up to women or remain closed, Ness looks to the commercial side of the equa- tion as an answer. “When I think about my classmates still in the Navy or Ma- rine Corps, I think about their ability to meet their mission and take care of those they’ve been entrusted with, not whether they’re male or female. In looking at job candidates, I think it is important to con- sider the same thing: the candidate’s abil- ity to meet the mission and take care of those they’ve been entrusted with.”

Less concerned with the implications of being “a woman on the waterfront,” she instead steers the conversation to the overriding need to recruit quali? ed replacements for all sectors of the mari- time industry. “Today, unlike our parents or grandparents generation in which ev- eryone had someone who had served, there is a signi? cant disconnect between the public with the military, as for most it is no longer seen as a career path,” she www.maritimeprofessional.com Maritime Professional 17I I 1-17 Q4 MP2015.indd 17 11/18/2015 10:30:23 AM