Linda Rose Smit, helmsman and shipowner
On this website, women from the maritime sector share their stories. This is the story of Linda Rose Smit.
What kind of work do you do?
In 1976 I was the first woman to leave the Noorderhaaks Maritime Academy in Den Helder. I then sailed as a helmsman for various companies, until 1985. I chose this profession because, born with a view at the sea, I wanted to see my future on water. From 1985 to 1993 I sailed with my partner, H.J.J. Zijm, on the ms Jehan, of which we were co-owners through our company.
Does being a woman play a role in your work?
Of course. In a world where most of your colleagues were men, who were often confronted with a female colleague for the first time, there were reactions. You are not standard. The younger crew members who had also just left school had fewer problems with it, than those who were close to retirement. The first trip, people actively worked against us. They also didn't expect us to stay. Outside the Netherlands, me and my female colleague were also looked at strangely. It made little difference to the work itself, for anyone can sail.
Around 1990 it happened that the ship I was sailing on had a female sailor and a female cook in addition to myself, which is quite a lot on a crew of seven people. We were in a Dutch port, where I went to arrange customs matters after entering, and started the loading work. An experienced customs officer stepped on board, with a young and obviously surprised colleague, who probably had not yet met a woman as a helmsman. Once busy with customs clearance, the cook stepped into the mess room and asked if we wanted coffee. Then the female sailor stepped in and asked which hatches had to be opened. The young customs officer could not resist asking if there were only women on board! His colleague and I told him without flinching that this was the case. Fortunately, no male colleague woke up early that Sunday morning.
What do you like most about your job?
The best thing is the vastness of your working environment. In addition, the irregular working conditions, the different ships, cargoes, colleagues, ports, and the ever-changing responsibilities are wonderful. No two days are the same. The work was practical, solution-oriented, logistical and planned, and that suited me. After we became co-owners of the Jehan it was very different. They were very nice years, with big lines, a lot of responsibility and very short fast trips. Sailing together was wonderful. We never had to wait for the other to be on leave too, we were out and home together.
They also didn't expect us to stay
