Ms Turner, the Mount Maunganui mother-of-three has been appointed Master of MV Golden Bay, a 4193 tonne cement carrier.
Ms Turner said she believed she could be the first woman appointed as captain of a New Zealand registered cargo ship.
During her career she has managed stevedoring gangs, organised cargo movements and helped to plan new container terminals.
Ms Turner’s Experience:
- In 1982, after leaving Carmel College, she became the third female sea cadet in the country by joining Union Steam Ship Company.
- Ms Turner said she began her on-sea roles as third mate on cargo ships Rotiti, Marama, Ngahere and tanker Amokura, and progressed to second mate, then chief officer.
- She finally gained her ocean-going master’s ticket after six years at sea, and study periods at the NZ Maritime School.
- She’s worked on the Sea Link Cook Strait ferry, the gas tanker Tarahiko, and the Forum Line that delivered cargo around the Pacific Islands.
When asked what it was like parking a 93-metre container ship at a port, she thinks for a moment.
“The best description I have heard which is most apt, is that it’s like picking up a cake of wet soap off a wet bathroom floor. It really depends on the weather how smoothly it goes. In bad weather the ship does move around a lot and berthing it in windy Wellington can be a real challenge.”
Ms Turner said her three adult children aged 17 to 22 years and other family members had taken her new role all in their stride.
Her partner, who worked in the same industry, was “so supportive and encouraging”.
Ms Turner said she hoped her role would inspire others to realise that a person’s gender should not be a barrier to anyone pursuing their passion no matter what it was.
“Whatever your career choice is just go for it,” she said.
Source: NZ Herald
