The only female engineer on the ocean liner

During his 4-year career, Fadhiilah Abdul Wahab (25 years old, Singaporean) has worked on 7 ships and traveled all over the world, from African countries to Australia, Canada, China, Japan, Spain .

On average, each of her trips lasts 4 months. In the most recent journey, the 25-year-old girl was on the ship for 6 months. This is also the longest trip she has ever had, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

For Fadhiilah, the hardest thing about doing this job was accepting that it was hard to see the same people on the same train again. “The chance of seeing each other again is almost non-existent. I’ve never been on a train with anyone twice. It’s really sad,” she told CNA.

Fadhiilah inside the ship’s empty gas tank.

Life on board

Fadhiilah said having access to the Republic of Singapore’s Navy brochure ignited her passion for the maritime sector. Unable to join the navy, she chose marine engineering to pursue her passion.

Fadhiilah’s parents were excited to learn that their youngest daughter wanted to be a marine engineer.

“When I shared that I wanted to study this major, I was worried that my parents would not agree. But they were completely supportive of it. Even when I said that I could be away from home for 6 months while on the train, my mother said. : ‘Adventure opportunities like this don’t come often. You should pursue it,'” she said.

Fadhiilah was supported by his family in pursuing a particular career.

The successful internship helped Fadhiilah join his current company. She is currently an assistant engineer (Fourth Engineer), overseeing the operation of many machines on the ship.

“Each engineer has different machines that need to be responsible. I’m in charge of fresh water generators, wastewater, purifiers, oily water separators, and moving fuel tanks,” she shared.

Fadhiilah’s work usually starts at 5:30am and ends at 5:00pm. On the days when she was assigned to work the night shift, she had to take care of everything that might arise after working hours.

Fadhiilah was used to living away from home, with four-month trips at sea.

“During the shift (3 days on duty), we are in charge of the entire engine room, so I have to know where the machines, alarms, and buttons are. I have to get used to the layout of the entire engine room.”

Working on a ship is very hot, it’s hard work because the engine room has a temperature of up to 45 degrees Celsius. “If in the Middle East, the temperature in the engine room can be up to 50 degrees Celsius, while in the Chinese sea in winter it’s about 15 degrees”.

Fadhiilah has no beautiful clothes. She wears a boiler suit, helmet, and boots throughout her shift.

“In this journey, there was never a time for me to worry about how I looked,” the engineer said, adding that she often works out to build strength.

Special journeys

Fadhiilah doesn’t have the power to choose the ship or the colleagues she will work with. When assigned, she boarded the ship. So she had to work with whoever was asked to join.

In the process, she has trained flexibility, the ability to work with people with different personalities and backgrounds. She said the crew could be replaced every four months.

“Flexibility is very important because we are always on the train with different strangers. You have to be able to adapt to not only the situations that may arise on board but also people with different personalities that you can’t be without. When you’re just getting used to and comfortable with someone, they can leave the ship and someone else comes on board, you’re going to have to learn how to work with that new person.”

In addition, Fadhiilah also encountered a language barrier. She has to learn how to communicate more easily for people to understand, but still has to show respect, especially to the elderly.

Fadhiilah said female marine engineers at the company are rare, so she is used to being the only woman on ships. Currently, the company has only two female Singaporean marine engineers out of a total of 15 female engineers globally.

The 25-year-old female engineer encourages young girls to pursue a career they love.

In addition to being the only female engineer, Fadhiilah is also often the youngest, as most of the crew are over 30 years old. While many consider it difficult for her, the 25-year-old engineer feels she has an edge.

“I’m naturally noticed for being the only woman on board. I can feel the difference when my colleagues talk to me compared to when they talk to other male colleagues. I’m a funny person by nature. . I often show happiness so that people have more motivation to work.”

Fadhiilah says she still misses life with other girls. She often chats with her mother and updates on the situation in Singapore, connecting with friends through social networking applications.

Fadhiilah encourages young women interested in a unique profession to try sailing, just as she did. But it’s important for them to remember that they need to be adaptable, responsible, and disciplined.

“If you’re determined to follow this path, you must remind yourself that whatever challenges may come your way. Ultimately, when you overcome them, you will become a better version of yourself. Hold on. Stand firm on what you want to achieve. Don’t let what people say, because you can’t control how other people behave, but you can control how you react to them.”

According to Zing