Captain Thelma Paul is not only the first South African female ship’s captain, one able to lead crews of cargo ships and passenger liners, but also the first to work as a marine surveyor in Dubai.
The Abbotsdale-born dynamo has a MPhil in Shipping Law from the University of Cape Town (UCT) as well as a Master Mariner Certificate of Competence from the South African Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa).
She also has other shipping qualifications, including a SMDP Certificate from the University of Stellenbosch’s Business School (USB-ED), a NHD in Maritime Studies (Cum Laude) from Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), aside from being Top Maritime Student and recipient of the Dean’s Merit Award for Academic Excellence.
Paul is the first South African woman qualified to captain any SOLAS Convention Ship – that is, any cargo ship of 500 gross tonnage or passenger ship on international waters, in line with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).
The convention governs safety norms and standards in the modern shipping world.
In addition, Paul is the first South African female working in Dubai as a marine surveyor (ISM/ISPS/MLC Auditor). “For Bureau Veritas Dubai, Marine and Offshore Division employing me as their first is a bold leap towards breaking the bias and changing the status of women in maritime demographics,” she said.
As a BV marine surveyor and auditor Paul undertakes inspections of ships for the purpose of classification, conduct ISM/ISP/MLC audits/approvals, and may also carry out statutory ship surveys on behalf of flag state on statutory items.
“On the completion of such surveys and audits I prepare reports on these activities, recommend actions and submit these for the update of class certificates and to the client,” she said.
Paul’s role is subdivided into two – one as a representative of BV classification society and the other as an inspector on behalf of the country Dubai, with which the vessel is registered (its flag state).
“My duty is to ensure ships comply with the BV Classification Society’s rules for construction and outfitting, before being deemed fit to proceed with trading,” she explained. “Acting on behalf of the flag state, my role is based on a clear set of guidelines.”
According to Paul, more than 18 years ago her manager encouraged her to apply for the Marine Pilot Training Programme, at the time offered preferably to women in port operations.
“Her view was that I appeared bored and needed a challenge,” she related. “She must have seen great potential in me to approach me of all the women working for Portnet at the time. I had no idea what this was all about, being your typical maths-and-science type of student, but applied for the opportunity.
“My biggest inspiration is my mother. I have strength to persevere and overcome adversities because I have first-hand experience watching my mother fight for us to make sure we survived in this world.”
Paul said her family is relocating to Dubai along with her. “I am grateful to have the opportunity to give to my children the education and life experiences that can take them to places I could only dream of as a child.
I am proud to be from Abbotsdale, to serve my community by planting a seed of belief, growth and development. There are other gems in that little town achieving beautiful things and I can tell you they too embrace coming from the “stof strate van Abbotsdale”.
