Can you introduce yourself in a few words - where you’re from and how your journey at sea began? What inspired you to choose a career in seafaring, especially in an industry where women are still few?
Hi, I am Apurva Narayan Deshpande, born and brought up in Pune. I did my pre sea from Tolani Maritime Institute, Pune. As a kid, all I knew was I want to pursue something DIFFERENT. With little to no knowledge and no maritime background, I relied on the internet to get to know the depths of this career chain. Thankyou, Google haha. Knowing the level of difficulty of the industry, the man to woman ratio, the sacrifices I will have to make for my career- my parents believed in me and so did I.
What challenges did you face as a woman at sea, and how did you overcome them? Is there one defining moment in your career so far that makes you proud?
Every person that makes a life altering decision of career at sea is special. Though as a woman, as soon as I joined my first ship, the biggest challenge was my own mind itself. How will I survive in the middle of the ocean working with 20 stranger men? Will they be skeptical? Will I belong? Once I conquered my own mind, half of the battle was done. Since then, genuine effort at understanding my role and working towards it has brought me where I am today. Since then, I am proud of myself everyday.
What do you think women bring uniquely to this profession?
Women entering a male dominated industry is building a rock solid foundation of any workplace - “balance” Diverse teams of both men and women lead to better understanding of the work force, better decision making and innovation.
What vessels have you sailed on, and in what capacity?
I have sailed on product tankers as a cadet and I currently sail on LPG tankers as an officer.
What skills or qualities have been most important for you in thriving at sea? How do you balance life at sea with personal life back home?
The best quality to have to thrive at sea is ~ willing to learn. Life onboard is monotonous, the cyclic days and nights month after month is exhausting. At the same time knowledge is abundant. Not settling in my role and being keen to know more about the ship that I sail on keeps life interesting for me. To balance my personal life, I always make sure I make time for my family every day for 15 minutes, I save up my internet to talk to my friends on a weekly basis- really keeps me sane.
What does working with MOL mean to you personally? How has MOL supported your growth or made you feel valued as a professional?
I did my first contract in the company and working with MOLMI is a valuable experience I am thankful for. For anyone considering a career in shipping with MOL, I would highly recommend taking the leap. From my experience, MOL offers endless opportunities and a very supportive and safe work environment.
What message would you give to young women considering a career in shipping with MOL
MOL nurtures every seafarer in the company. I admire the way the company focuses on skill development through their training programs. This portrays MOLs commitment towards every individual.