Gift Bassey – Windstar Cruises 3rd Engineer

We recently caught up with Gift Bassey who is currently working as a 3rd Engineer for Windstar Cruises, to find out how she got into the maritime industry and how she feels about working at sea.

"I decided to join the maritime industry as I imagined an adventurous career where I would have the opportunity to travel and see the world.

I love challenges and understood that life at sea would be testing and that I would be pushed to bring out the best in me.

I had never considered any other career, but I am naturally a good actress so maybe I would have pursued a career in the art world had I not begun my career in the maritime industry.

I started my career at sea at the Maritime Academy in Nigeria, Oron. I obtained a diploma in Marine Engineering and thereafter pursued BSC Marine Engineering at Regional Maritime Uni, Ghana

During this time, I was awarded an excellence scholarship by Swire Pacific Offshore, which covered the remaining part of my study and onboard training.

If I had to name one port as my favourite, it would have to be the port of Luba. I have very fond memories at the port of Luba where I was able to meet my now husband. We spent about 30 minutes together after being apart for 4 months.

Being away from home and staying constantly alert is probably the most difficult aspect of working at sea. You must think and act fast always.

My career has moulded me into a highly productive individual. From my experience of working on board ships, I have learnt an appreciation of time and responsibility and the remuneration is also very rewarding.

I feel gender diversity is very important in the Maritime Industry but would also like to add that females should be employed for their competence, willingness, and ability to learn and work.

If I had to share one piece of advice with someone considering going to work at sea it would be, 'Always remember to put your home together as you set sail, because home is all you come back to when your tour is over'. This is the advice that I hold dear to my heart always."

To find out more about career opportunities at Windstar Cruises, please click here.