Fall Updates 2023

Dear friends,

It’s been an interesting year. We made progress on some of our special projects, but the highlight of 2023 for our organization was most certainly the Sea Sisters Retreat, which we held on October 6-8 in Sausalito, California.

The event was a spectacular success, and I want to thank the attendees, the venue NatureBridge Golden Gate, and our sponsor, the San Francisco Bar Pilots for making it such a wonderful weekend. 

I want to share some thoughts on the event from a few of our retreat attendees:

This event brought young and experienced mariners together from many sectors of the industry. It provided a place to safely discuss and problem-solve the realities of maritime work for women, which is often isolating and has unique risks. The conference was a much-needed source of support and community, and I am confident it will contribute to better retention of women in maritime careers. - Megan

This event is so important for women in the maritime industry. It gives us an opportunity to connect, discuss issues, tell sea stories, and network. I appreciate the support from our sponsor so we could make this retreat happen, and I look forward to attending more of these in the future. - Claire

I know I struggle sometimes with feeling disconnected from people and this was a beautiful experience to help remind me I am a part of a sisterhood of amazing women with varied and diverse backgrounds and perspectives. I am an introvert and can have a hard time opening up, but I felt so comfortable around the Sea Sisters. - Mary Kate

I felt a rejuvenation of hope and empowerment after attending. It reminded me how supported I really am in this male dominated field. It is a great opportunity for networking and to make new friends.

It was only 3 days but it had a major impact on me as a person and mariner. This retreat allowed Sea Sisters to take the connection of women mariners in the industry to another level. I could see mentorship relationships forming. I got a lot more out of this retreat than just hanging out with fellow sea sisters - I got a renewed sense of strength, hope, support, and validation that I am on the right path and have a strong support system. - Jessica

While the year started out well, personally and for Sea Sisters, my summer sadly took a dark turn. On August 30th, my mother Marina died unexpectedly of a stroke and other complications. This tragedy has rocked the foundation of my existence, and makes every day a battle to find shreds of sunlight through a dark storm. For months I’ve been unable to find the words to write this newsletter or say anything at all about Sea Sisters, about my mom, about the ways in which they are tied together and how my heartbreak colors the way I experience and interact with the nonprofit and the community at large.

In the wake of my mother’s death, my sisters near and far rallied around me. With their love and support, the pain of this loss has been slightly less terrible. Some friends thought we might cancel the retreat we had planned for early October, but I had several reasons to carry on with the event; after cancellations and delays, we have waited long enough for this highly anticipated retreat, and mom certainly would have wanted us to come together and enjoy a beautiful weekend on the California coast, celebrating sisterhood, celebrating our love for all things maritime, networking and building new friendships.

I find myself coming back to a thought I often have these days: the thought that ten years ago, I never could have imagined we would have this powerful, beautiful network of women to turn to when we need help. This community is incredible, and it was built by people who want to see women in the maritime industry not just stick it out and survive, but flourish and enjoy the life and opportunities this industry provides.

Sea Sisters is all of this and more, and the importance and value of this organization cannot be measured. It has been a piece of my heart, and I know my mom loved it as much as I do. She was immensely proud of me; she was proud of all of us. I will always do everything I can to honor her memory, and that includes dedicating my time and resources to the betterment of my community the way she did.

I thank you all sincerely for your support.

Love, 

Elizabeth 

WATCH: Sea Sisters - USCG Sexual Misconduct Prevention Webinar

Last week, we held a webinar with USCG Rear Admiral Wayne Arguin and Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) Director Jeremy Gauthier to discuss recent changes to legislation around the reporting and investigation of sexual misconduct in the maritime industry.

The main objectives of this legislation are to hold perpetrators accountable, to seek justice and support for survivors, and especially to prevent these crimes from happening in the first place. Working together, we can start to change the culture around harassment, bullying, and sexual violence in our industry and make the maritime workplace safe for all mariners.

You can watch a recording of the Webinar here:

*My mic audio unfortunately started to go out towards the end of the zoom call, so big thanks to my co-host Adam Deitz for his help in facilitating the discussion!  Thank you for watching!

You can view the changes in the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022. The part of the act related to Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment provisions can be found in Sections 11601-11611 (Pages 387-399).

You can also check out Marine Information Safety Bulletin 1-23 which was published February 9, 2023, and contains the USCG/CGIS Sexual Misconduct Reporting and Investigation infographic, complete with phone number, email address, and CGIS Tips App QR code which can be used to make a report.

Thanks for reading, and take care of each other out there.

 

To report a crime on board your vessel, scan this QR code or visit the CGIS Tips Form

You can also call or email: +1 202-372-2100 CGISTIPS@uscg.mil

 

Sea Sisters Give Thanks | Fall Updates 2022

Posted by Elizabeth Simenstad

Greetings friends,

What a year it has been. I wish to apologize for our/my long absence from the internet airwaves and pledge to forge ahead into a much brighter future. We have so much to offer and we will be working hard in 2023 to stay true to our mission of promoting the recruitment and retention of women in the maritime industry through our programs.

Here in the United States where we are based, Thanksgiving Day is tomorrow and everyone is gearing up for another holiday season. Wherever you may be headed, I hope you are happy and healthy.

We give thanks this year for our amazing community, for the allies who support us, for the sea sisters who share their seagoing journeys with the world, who consistently cheer each other on and celebrate each other's achievements. I am thankful for the ongoing financial support of our donors and sustainers; keeping the lights on in our nonprofit is not free of cost, and without you, we would not exist. Thank you.

Elizabeth

Captain Jill Russell, current SEAPA Pilot, and Captain Claire Lewis, pilot trainee

SEAPA is holding an Entrance Exam!

Save the date: if you are interested in becoming a Southeast Alaska Pilot, SEAPA is holding their next exam on April 22-28, 2023. All information, including requirements, test prep bibliography, and application materials can be found here.

New merch in the shop!

Need some fun stocking stuffers this Christmas? We have tons of great merch including several new items in our online shop!

Giving Tuesday is next week!

We owe our success to your generosity. 2022 has been another tough year for some of us, but we look forward to having a positive impact on our community in the coming year with your support. Consider a tax-deductible donation to Sea Sisters this year.

Puget Sound Pilots Announce New Maternity Leave Policy

"I think being a mother, having a child while sailing, is near impossible but super-hard as a pilot and this policy makes it easier to balance motherhood with achieving your career goals” - Capt. Sandy Bendixen, Puget Sound Pilot

“It’s about time. I’m really impressed with PSP stepping up. I hope all other pilot associations, companies, and unions will follow suit.” - Capt. Deb Dempsey, retired Columbia River Bar Pilot

We applaud the Puget Sound Pilots on their groundbreaking new maternity leave policy! CLICK HERE to read more about the efforts to bring this policy to the table and about PSP’s commitment to increasing diversity among their ranks.

Upcoming Events

Women In Maritime Leadership Conference | California Maritime Academy, Vallejo, CA

Save the date! This conference at CMA is always an enjoyable and enriching event, year after year. From the conference webpage:

"Now approaching its twelfth year, Cal Maritime's Women in Maritime Leadership Conference supports the success of women in maritime. The 2023 conference will deliver an equity focused leadership development curriculum specific to the goals of cadets and professional women in the maritime industry."

For more information, go to csum.edu

Giving Tuesday 2021: Consider A Donation To Sea Sisters!

It’s that time of year again: Giving Tuesday! This donation drive is our single largest source of financial support all year, and because of your generosity time after time, we have grown stronger as an organization and as a community.

You can help us build momentum into the new year with your donation. Give to Sea Sisters today by going to to https://www.seasisters.org/donate and while you’re there, check out our Sustainer Program! A small monthly or quarterly recurring donation is a great and affordable way to become a long-term benefactor of the causes you care about.

Thank you for your support!

Fall Updates 2021

Posted by Elizabeth Simenstad

Greetings friends,

It has been a rough few weeks for our community. We have been in shock since the story of Midshipman X came to light last month, and our hearts are broken for her and for so many people who have experienced sexual assault and harassment at sea. We have built a long-overdue SA/SH Support Page on the Sea Sisters website, and opened a helpline email that can be reached at any time via help@seasisters.org where volunteers will soon be standing by to talk and offer support; Sea Sisters is working to secure victim advocacy training for our helpline volunteers.

We encourage survivors of sexual assault to report abuse, share their stories, and seek mental health counseling in the wake of an attack. We are also working closely with fellow industry leaders to enact permanent legislative changes to make sure that nothing like this ever happens again. Women deserve a safe working environment: enough is enough.

—

In other news, our fellow sea sister and site contributor Catherine has written a piece on how she handles work-life balance and the risk of burnout, which I think many of us can agree has been a major challenge during the ongoing covid pandemic and the many negative effects it has had on our lives, both at home and at work.

Things have been a bit quiet on the airwaves here at Sea Sisters for the past few months, which I'm sorry to say is due to some personal/health struggles on my end. I have written a post about these struggles, which you can read on my contributor section of the Sea Sisters site. I share my experiences here because they are entwined with my maritime career as well as my position at Sea Sisters, and I want to assure our readers that we are still committed to supporting our community, through the good times and the bad. I am also committed to destigmatizing clear and open discussions about mental health struggles, and I want you to know that you are never alone in your pain - we are here any time you need to talk. *Be aware that the essay discusses topics that may be uncomfortable or alarming to some readers, so please read at your discretion.

We are ready to get back to work and we look forward to moving ahead on our projects and programs. If you ever have questions or thoughts you'd like to share with us, you can contact us through the website or reach us at info@seasisters.org, and we will get back to you. Take care out there.

Warm regards,

Elizabeth

Women Offshore Conference 2021

Attend the 4th-Annual Women Offshore Conference on November 5th & 12th!

This year, Women Offshore will host a virtual conference on November 5th and 12th. Over two days, attend keynote speeches and panel discussions that focus on resilience. Be inspired through interactive sessions and workshops, network with others, and share your ideas!

Today is the last day to register for November 5th or VIP Access (both days of the conference), and registration will close for November 12th (second day of the conference only) 48 hours before the event starts. Register at Womenoffshore.org

IOMM&P Forms Women's Caucus

We are pleased that the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots has formed a Women's Caucus to support their female membership. They have released this statement:

“A new MM&P Women’s Caucus has been formed to support equal rights and demand safe workspaces. The mission statement of the Women’s Caucus is as follows.

The mission of the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots Women’s Caucus is to effect change to assure equal rights, respect and safety for all mariners and workers in the maritime industry.

We will advocate for and actively support women’s rights, professional development, networking, and the discussion of all issues specific to women in maritime, including cisgender and transgender women, femmes, and nonbinary people within MM&P and throughout the maritime industry.

Our focus is to listen and take critical steps to make necessary adjustments. We will take purposeful action to demand a safe, harassment-free work environment and culture that is designed to protect all workers in our industry and support them in reaching their full potential.

This will inspire new business practices that must be implemented throughout every corner of our Organization to enhance mariners’ rights and interests throughout our industry."

We hope to see other unions follow this example! You can contact the IOMM&P Women's Caucus by emailing womenscaucus@bridgedeck.org. They are currently recruiting volunteers to help members in need of support on their Warm Line. They will also be in attendance at the Women Offshore Conference November 5 & 12!

Thank you for reading, and fair winds to you,

Sea Sisters