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Aboard Ships, Women Still a Rarity in 2025

The old sailor's saying goes, "Women on board, bring luck, but disaster follows." Three female captains share their tales of navigating turbulent waters.

Sea-faring Illustration by Kim-Melina Bertram**

As the morning sun glistens on the Elbe, seagulls squawk, and the waterfront teems with onlookers. It's Hamburger Hafengeburtstag, and all eyes are on the Cap San Diego, eagerly awaiting its departure. "Rudder stands Helm 20!" rings out over the bridge of this very ship. The voice belongs to Cynthia Wolter, a 32-year-old aspiring captain, steering the world's largest seaworthy museum ship. Her sunglasses rest deeply on the bridge of her nose, her gaze unwavering. As visitors make their way onto the bridge, it becomes a crowded spectacle. Those who obstruct her view are quickly ushered aside. Shouts, camera clicks, and chatter - Wolter stays focused.

As the Cap San Diego pulls away from the harbor, the container terminals glide past, Blankenese already visible. Wolter relinquishes the helm.

The Cap San Diego is helmed by Cynthia Wolter on a voluntary basis. In her regular profession, she serves as a third officer on vessels building wind turbines at sea. "I've encountered men who lock themselves in their shells and carry this mantra deep within: A woman can't do that," she shares. There was little guidance or instruction offered at the beginning of her career as a navigator - a time when she is convinced that one learns only through experience.

Scant Room on the Bridge - and in History

Up until 1915, it was taboo in German shipyards to employ women. The first German female captain was recorded in 1955 - Anneliese Teetz, who, as a young girl, had to disguise herself as a boy just to sail. Since then, progress has been slow, although steady. In 2024, 21 female captains sailed German ships - among 948 captain positions. The percentage remains modest: In 2019, there were only 16 women. It's noticeable: The younger the personnel, the higher the female representation.

Since 2022, the International Day of Women in the Maritime Sector commemorates on May 18th the structural barriers in the maritime sector. Women in leadership positions experience prejudices and gender-based assumptions onboard. A study by the All Aboard Alliance from 2023 reveals that women are often perceived as less competent and are repeatedly required to prove themselves.

The Captain is a Woman

Lea Brakemeier, a 28-year-old captain, is sailing across the Baltic Sea. "I believe the main issue is that the image of a captain in most minds is still that of an old, experienced man, completely stereotypical, wearing a beard, perhaps even a hat, with a pipe in his mouth," she admits. Brakemeier recounts how Lotsen often mistake her first officer for the captain, and her for the apprentice. With a smile, she adds, "If that happens again, I step out, come back, and present myself as the captain once more." She emphasizes that women at sea need to work harder to be taken seriously. "The women who have managed to establish themselves have often had to give 110%," she says.

Steering Through Roles and Barriers

Magdalene Mintrop stepped into the maritime world late: at 51, she obtained her harbor pilot's license and helmed barges in the Hamburg harbor. During her practical assessment, a postcard hung next to the steering wheel: "Women navigate better - with public transportation." Now retired and sailing her own barge, Mintrop's seafaring memorabilia remind her of her days on the water. Her room resembles a bunk - cozy, filled with stories. Here lives someone who traveled far and wide.

"I struggled in professions where women don't have it easy. But sailing was the hardest," she recalls. Time and time again, she was confronted with sexist comments and off-color jokes. At some point, she decided to stop reacting. "I won't be reduced to a sexist by them," she says dispassionately.

Captain Brakemeier shares the same attitude. She's grown a thick skin, deflecting idiotic remarks. She, however, knows that as a captain, she holds the final word - regardless of gender. "If men can't work in a team and follow orders, they simply don't belong on a ship," she states. Soon after, two crew members appear on the bridge, asking for permission to take access ramps ashore. It's clear: She's in charge.

Steering Through Roles and Barriers

The Cap San Diego makes a turn at Glückstadt. The tide is flowing in from the North Sea, pushing the ship forward. The Cap San Diego sets sail. The container terminals slide by, Blankenese already visible - Wolter releases the helm.

Since 1998, Berufsverband Frauen zur See e.V. has served as a platform for women in the maritime industry to network and support one another. The association also offers workshops and regular meetings to promote information exchange and visibility of women in the maritime sector.

Lea Brakemeier and Cynthia Wolter both work for internationally oriented companies with a low tolerance for misogyny - yet they still face resistance. "Change has to come at the root, at the entire worldview," Brakemeier reflects. More women onboard could help change the image of the captain - and make female mariners more visible.

As the Cap San Diego nears Hamburg, Cynthia Wolter returns to the helm. The Elbphilharmonie comes into view. A smile skims her face. "For me, this is the best moment," she shares. Despite the crowd, the harbor's traffic remains dense. The ship clips close to other vessels, weaving through a complex dance. The Cap San Diego barely has room to make the traditional turn at the Elbphilharmonie, so a spontaneous maneuver is necessary. Wolter steers with focus. "I've never been so close before," she says. "It looks pretty tight," her colleague observes. Wolter remains calm.

Just a few minutes later, the ship is safely docked. "17:07, Ship in the docks," rings out on deck.

Clara Gödecke

Adventurous at heart, Clara Gödecke, born in 2000, revels in discovery. She has explored 27 countries, with Nepal being her most intriguing destination. She moved to Hamburg for a Media-Systems degree at HAW in 2020, hailing from Cologne. Sun-drenched days in LA, where she also made a short film about a person trapped in a room with no exit, were highlights from her study abroad experience. As diverse as her travel destinations are her jobs. She assists guests for the NDR Talk Show, works as a set camera operator assistant for the series "Bergretter," and has occasionally thrown out rowdy patrons from a bar as a bouncer. Codename: cla.

Bonus Information:

Woman Captains in 2025: Unfortunately, the provided search results do not offer a specific number of women currently serving as captains in the German maritime sector as of 2025. While the article mentions female captains in leadership roles, no comprehensive statistics or precise figures are presented[1].
Cynthia Wolter, despite encountering resistance from some men in her career, is aspiring to become a full-time captain, demonstrating that finance, business, and careers in the maritime sector are not exclusive to men.
Lea Brakemeier, a captain sailing across the Baltic Sea, believes that breaking traditional stereotypes about the image of a captain in the maritime industry is essential for the advancement of women in leadership roles, thereby promoting opportunities in finance, business, and careers.