My name is Elizabeth Dunford Manzi, a 29 years old Marine Engineer currently working as a Flag and Port State Control Officer at the Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation (TASAC). I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Marine Engineering Technology from the Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute (DMI), where I enrolled in 2015 and graduated in 2019.

Before joining DMI, I knew almost nothing about the maritime industry or the marine engineering program I was about to pursue. It’s a surprising and somewhat disheartening reality, considering the vast opportunities that the maritime sector offers to both men and women. In fact, I often say I joined the field by accident (a story for another day) but I quickly fell in love with it as I began to understand its depth and potential.

While at DMI, I was introduced to the Association of Women in the Maritime Sector in Eastern and Southern Africa – Tanzania Chapter (WOMESA). Finding this network was a huge relief for me. It was reassuring and comforting to meet and interact with other women with similar goals and ambitions in a male-dominated industry especially considering, in my class of 36 students, only two of us were women.

Most of the times, I often faced discouragement from fellow students and even some close relatives. It was commonly believed that a woman had no place on a ship, let alone in the engine room. Without a support system, it would have been easy to internalize those doubts. Thankfully, WOMESA became that support system, providing guidance, encouragement, and emotional support.

When I completed my degree and was uncertain about what came next, WOMESA came through. They found a ship for me to get my seatime, ensured that the environment was safe and conducive to learning, and supported me in every step of the way. The care and concern shown by WOMESA leadership was so genuine that some people even assumed one of them was a close family member. They were simply doing their job and they did it exceptionally well. I always felt assured that I had people who got my back even when I was far out at sea.

Thanks to the seatime I gained in that ship, I qualified for my Certificate of Competency as an Officer in Charge of an Engineering Watch for ships powered by engines of 750kW or more. I also secured a Government job position with the United Republic of Tanzania. Currently, I’m preparing to return to sea to further enrich my practical experience.

I am deeply proud of WOMESA’s impact in introducing the maritime world to young women and girls across the region. I am even prouder that today, more women are aware of the industry and actively seizing its opportunities. We now have more female role models to look up to, thanks to WOMESA’s tireless work through programmes, forums, and projects that empower women to engage with the maritime sector and help bridge the gender gap.

This is my testimony.