Captain Thelma Paul is not only the first South African female ship\u2019s captain, one able to lead crews of cargo ships and passenger liners, but also the first to work as a marine surveyor in Dubai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She also has other shipping qualifications, including a SMDP Certificate from the University of Stellenbosch\u2019s 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\u2019s Merit Award for Academic Excellence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paul is the first South African woman qualified to captain any SOLAS Convention Ship \u2013 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).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The convention governs safety norms and standards in the modern shipping world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition, Paul is the first South African female working in Dubai as a marine surveyor (ISM\/ISPS\/MLC Auditor). \u201cFor 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,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOn 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,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paul\u2019s role is subdivided into two \u2013 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).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy duty is to ensure ships comply with the BV Classification Society\u2019s rules for construction and outfitting, before being deemed fit to proceed with trading,\u201d she explained. \u201cActing on behalf of the flag state, my role is based on a clear set of guidelines.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHer view was that I appeared bored and needed a challenge,\u201d she related. \u201cShe 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paul said her family is relocating to Dubai along with her. \u201cI 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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 \u201cstof strate van Abbotsdale<\/i>\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Captain Thelma Paul is not only the first South African female ship\u2019s captain, one able to lead crews of cargo ships and passenger liners, but also the first to work as a marine surveyor in Dubai.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":42190,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_linkdex":"","_yoast_wpseo_content_score":"","_yoast_wpseo_inclusive_language_score":"","_yoast_wpseo_is_cornerstone":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image-id":"","newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","_crsspst_to_novanewscoza":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozabloemnewsexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozacityvision":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozadistrictmailhelderberg":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaeikestadnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozahermanustimes":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakomani-karoo":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakougaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozamthathaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozanoordkaapbulletin":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapaarlpost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeoplespost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozatygerburger":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaudexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavistanews":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavrystaatkroon":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweskusnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweslander":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaworcesterstandard":false,"_EventAllDay":"","_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":"","_EventShowMapLink":"","_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":"","_EventVenueID":"","_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":"","_VenueShowMapLink":"","_application":"","_batch_id":"","_company_name":"","_company_tagline":"","_company_twitter":"","_company_video":"","_company_website":"","_custom_id":"896885cd-ffa5-45ac-99bf-83fa5664f71c","_EventDuration":"","_EventOrigin":"","_EventTimezoneAbbr":"","_featured":"","_filled":"","_job_expires":"","_job_location":"","_media_credit":"","_media_credit_url":"","_menu_item_menu_item_parent":"","_menu_item_object":"","_menu_item_object_id":"","_menu_item_target":"","_menu_item_type":"","_menu_item_url":"","_menu_item_xfn":"","_navis_media_can_distribute":"","_navis_media_credit_org":"","_OrganizerOrigin":"","_provider":"","_pum_built_in":"","_pum_default_theme":"","_pum_form_conversion_count":"","_remote_id":"","_remote_name":"","_remote_position":"","_report_frequency":"","_report_reference_dates":"","_send_attempts":"","_site_id":"","_sitemap_exclude":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","_sitemap_priority":"","_source_url":"","_subscription_period":"","_subscription_period_interval":"","_subscription_price":"","_tec_slr_enabled":"","_tec_slr_layout":"","_template_type":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_ticket_start_date":"","_tribe_aggregator_allow_multiple_organizers":"","_tribe_aggregator_content_type":"","_tribe_aggregator_file":"","_tribe_aggregator_finalized":"","_tribe_aggregator_hash":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_id":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_interactive":"","_tribe_aggregator_origin":"","_tribe_aggregator_post_status":"","_tribe_aggregator_preview":"","_tribe_aggregator_source_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_type":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_hide_attendees_list":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":"","_tribe_ticket_version":"","_type":"","_VenueOrigin":"","_wp_attachment_context":"","_wp_attachment_image_alt":"","_wp_font_face_file":"","_wp_old_date":"","_yoast_wpseo_estimated-reading-time-minutes":"","_yoast_wpseo_focuskeywords":"","_yoast_wpseo_focuskw_text_input":"","_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_block-catalog":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_job_listing_type":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_nova_retailer":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_publication":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_tribe_events_cat":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-duration":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-rating":"","_menu_item_classes":[],"_tribe_modified_fields":[],"_wp_attachment_backup_sizes":[],"_wp_suggested_privacy_policy_content":[],"_yoast_post_redirect_info":[],"_yoast_wpseo_video_meta":[],"activation_date":"","archive_insertion_is_repeating":"","archive_insertion_posts_count":"","article_feature_media":"","article_feature_type":"","article_main_image_caption":"","article_media_icon":"","article_template":"","author_byline":"Anan Jacobs","background_color":"","block_editor":"","byline":"","cmplz_hide_cookiebanner":"","competition_end_date":"","contact_advertise_email":"","contact_advertise_phone":"","contact_editorial_email":"","contact_general_email":"","contact_general_phone":"","contact_office_hours":"","contact_physical_address":"","enabled":"","featured_image_custom_caption":"","featured_video_url":"","fields":"","font_body":"","font_header":"","frequency":"","headline":"","hide_border":"","icon":"","is_wp_suggestion":"","issuu_download_url":"","issuu_embed_url":"","language_version_url":"","large_border":"","name":"","nm_contact_name":"","nm_contact_number":"","nm_date_lost":"","no_overlay_background":"","node-url":"","obituary_born_date":"","obituary_died_date":"","obituary_memoriam_text":"","origin":"","overlay_color":"","overlay_opacity":"","overlay_size":"","placement":"","plural_label":"","post_author":"","post_id":"","post_language":"en","secret-key":"","sponsored_utm_campaign":"","sponsored_utm_content":"","sponsored_utm_medium":"","sponsored_utm_source":"","sponsored_utm_term":"","start_date":"","utm_suppression":"","video_embed_url":"","wp_pattern_sync_status":"","data_version":[],"enclosure":[],"pongrass_image":[],"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_newspack_byline_active":false,"_newspack_byline":"","newspack_content_restriction_is_exempt":false,"scaip_prevent_shortcode_addition":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"publication":[],"class_list":["post-42188","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n