Lorna Mwangudza, Wiper (Engine Rating) – Kenya

I’ve been working as a Wiper in the engine department for 14 months, supporting the engineering team to keep the heart of the ship running. My duties range from assisting with machinery transport and watch-keeping to cleaning, painting, and helping during fueling operations. Sometimes I even take on fire watch duties during welding.

What I love most is being down there with the machinery. There’s pride in knowing that our work keeps the ship moving, and even more pride in calling myself an “engine girl.”

But the journey hasn’t been easy. Working as a female wiper on a cruise ship has been one of the toughest yet most eye-opening experiences of my life. The physical work is exhausting, the heat is brutal, and the noise is relentless. More than that, the challenge often lies in proving myself in a space where women are rarely seen. The grease on my coveralls sometimes feels lighter than the pressure on my shoulders. Still, I’ve refused to back down. I’ve learned to hold my own, to ask for help without shrinking, and to let my consistency speak louder than words. I’m still learning, still growing, but I know I’m where I’m meant to be.

If I could change anything for women at sea, especially in the engine room, it would be the culture. Too often we’re told to stay quiet or “toughen up” when disrespected. I want women to walk in and be seen as capable professionals, not as outsiders who must work twice as hard to belong. We do the work — we deserve more than just tolerance.

To women starting out, my advice is: be bold, be stubborn, and don’t shrink yourself. The job will test you physically and emotionally, and you’ll miss moments at home. But in the process, you’ll discover a strength you didn’t even know you had. And above all, find joy in the journey. Work may be draining, but creating fun out of the chaos makes life at sea lighter.

Lorna Mwangudza, Wiper (Engine Rating) – Kenya