Sharifa Yousif. Photos: Supplied
Sharifa Yousif had a deep-seated fear of the sea, rooted in a near-drowning incident at the age of five and the tragic loss of a brother before she could even speak. Determined to conquer her fears and break into a male-dominated industry, she took her first sea swim 18 years later, jumping from the top of an 8-meter-high vessel as part of a sea-rescue drill during her cadetship program. “When I stepped up for the jump, I felt scared, but they warned me not to look down, so I just closed my eyes and jumped; as soon as I hit the water, it felt so good to be back in the sea,” the 23-year-old senior cadet told Khaleej Times. “I asked my peers to jump before me, and when I saw them land safely in the water, I was more encouraged to go for it.”
Fascinated by the unique challenges of offshore marine life, Yousif enrolled in the Sharjah Maritime Academy (SMA) in 2019. Two years later, she began her practical cadetship program, becoming part of the first batch of young Emirati women to join Adnoc Group’s offshore marine force. The women are trained to handle any potential crises on board, including emergency response drills for sea rescues, fire extinguishing, first aid, and CPR. “In case there were any emergencies at sea, we can be self-sufficient and save a person’s life without the need for a paramedic or a firefighter on board,” Yousif explained.
The team of seven had to prove their compatibility with their male counterparts to endure the long, harsh sea journeys. “It was difficult at first; we were a group of passionate women who wanted to do the job full on. At first, our male colleagues used to give us special treatment and worry about giving us too much load; like they would say ‘this is too heavy for her; don’t wake her up too early, let her rest’, but we proved that we were equally devoted to get the job done,” Yousif recounted. “Experiencing the job on the ground was very different from studying it in a classroom.”
Although she could have applied for her license after 12 months of training, Yousif chose to voluntarily extend her cadetship to 18 months to gain more expertise. “I was always curious about how vessels remain stable during harsh weather conditions and rough sea. I learned to stabilize the cargo so that it maintains its balance; this is usually the role of a chief mate, but I managed to do it after 18 months of training,” she said. In two months, Yousif plans to sit for her certification exam to become a maritime officer. “It’ll be an oral test on everything we learned from A to Z. I am ready for it, I studied very well and gained adequate practical experience; I can’t wait to be an official female maritime officer on board, not just a trainee,” she added. “It’s a big accomplishment; we’re all waiting for it.”
Her first official trip will be a four-month return journey to Japan—her longest by far. “I will miss my sister’s wedding as it coincides with this mission, I could’ve chosen to stay for the wedding and reschedule assignments, but I’m keen on meeting work priorities,” she said. Her family accepted her long absences after her mother convinced them that she had to chase her dreams. “I will miss a lot on social life though,” she admitted.
Dana Al Adawi, who recently received her marine officer status, said the valuable relationships gained offshore compensate for the social events one misses onshore. “There are usually 24 crew members on a medium-sized vessel. We socialize and celebrate each other’s birthdays as well as national celebrations, and we have a variety of leisure facilities—a fully equipped gym, a library, TV, internet,” said the 22-year-old. The support she found from her colleagues, whenever she felt ‘down’, was a highlight for her, she added. “Working offshore can be very challenging to endure—even men find it difficult. But if you fancy a challenge, this field will give you a beautiful satisfactory feeling.”
Despite her grandfather being a sea captain, working in the sea was not something of interest to Al Adawi while growing up. However, the rarity of the field among her peers was what motivated her to join. “When I started my cadetship, I was the only woman on board. And when I stood behind the wheel the first time, I felt like I was in a different realm. When we took a break, I told them I felt like I was in a dream, woke up for a bit, and will get back to it after the break,” she said. She is looking forward to her first offshore trip as an officer in a few months. “I expect it to be a different experience than sailing as a cadet, it will be tougher and more serious,” she said.
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