A career in nursing may seem worlds apart from life at sea, but for Elizabeth, her professional journey is taking an unexpected turn as she pursues her long-held dream of joining the maritime industry.
A Diploma holder from Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) and a nurse with six years of professional experience, Elizabeth is among the trainees who completed the STCW Basic Safety Training (BST) course at Bandari Maritime Academy (BMA) last week.
Elizabeth’s journey demonstrates how the maritime industry can accommodate graduates and professionals from diverse academic and professional backgrounds who are willing to acquire the required maritime skills and certifications.
Her decision to undertake STCW Basic Safety Training is driven by her dream of working at sea. The course provides essential safety knowledge and skills required of individuals seeking employment aboard ships and is a mandatory requirement for seafarers.
“Working at sea has always been a dream of mine, and undertaking this training is bringing me closer to achieving it.’’ says Elizabeth.
Her transition from nursing to maritime training highlights the diverse opportunities available in the maritime sector. While some maritime careers require specialized maritime qualifications, there are also roles where professionals from other fields can apply their existing expertise alongside relevant maritime training and certification.
Elizabeth believes her background in healthcare, combined with the maritime safety skills acquired at BMA, will give her an opportunity to explore new career possibilities at sea.
Her story demonstrates that a career in the maritime industry does not necessarily have to begin with a maritime qualification. With the right training, determination, and willingness to learn, graduates and professionals from different fields can chart a new course and explore opportunities in the growing maritime and Blue Economy sectors.
For Elizabeth, the journey has just begun—and the sea is calling.
