Christel Smit, marine engineer at Van Oord
On this website, women from the maritime sector share their stories. This is the story of Christel Smit.
What kind of work do you do?
I work as an engineer on a trailing suction hopper dredger at Van Oord. Together with my colleagues, I’m responsible for everything that happens in the engine room. My duties include standing watch, troubleshooting malfunctions, and performing maintenance on the various systems on board.
After high school, I had to decide which program to pursue. During a visit to the Navy Days in Den Helder, I became enthusiastic about life at sea. I thought it would be cool to go to sea myself. This motivated me to enroll in a program at the Maritime Academy in Amsterdam. During this program, I completed two six-month internships. My first internship was in the merchant marine, and during that time I went on a voyage that took me from Finland to the United States, Canada, and Brazil, before sailing back to Europe. This internship gave me a good sense of life on board. My second internship was with Van Oord on a trailing suction hopper dredger, where I discovered that the dredging industry is a perfect fit for me. In addition to working in the engine room, you’re also involved in the technical aspects of the dredging operation, which means you deal with many different systems and tasks. That’s what makes the work challenging. Moreover, the mindset within the dredging sector really appeals to me: people work hard, but there’s also plenty of room for collaboration, responsibility, and camaraderie.
Does being a woman play a role in your studies?
I feel that I’m seen primarily as a colleague and as an engineer. I feel very much part of the crew on board, and I don’t feel any different from the rest of them. Of course, you bond more quickly with some colleagues than with others, but it’s no different on shore. What matters is that you do your job well, can rely on each other, and work together as a team, regardless of whether you’re a man or a woman.
What do you like most about your job?
What I love most about my job is that no two days are the same. One day you’re performing maintenance on the engines, the next you’re troubleshooting a technical issue. Every day brings new challenges. I also get to see a lot of the world and experience extraordinary things, from the pyramids in Egypt to dredging on the Amazon River in Brazil. When I step outside and see the dolphins leaping out of the water, I’m glad I didn’t choose an office job!
What matters is that you do your job well, can rely on each other, and work together as a team, regardless of whether you’re a man or a woman