Leenane native Bridget Gavin has made history by being the first Irish woman appointed as chief engineer of a ship. She was recently appointed chief engineer of Ulysses, the Irish Ferries Dublin to Holyhead cruise ferry.

Bridget grew up in Leenane, on the border of Galway and Mayo, and attended school at Sancta Maria College, Louisburgh. She holds a National Diploma in Marine and Plant Engineering from Cork Institute of Technology (CIT), and went on to complete further studies in marine engineering, in courses sponsored by the Department of Marine and Natural Resources.

Amongst these is the all-important Chief Engineer Class 1 Certificate of Competence which she holds in company with one other Irish woman who studied with her at CIT and who now works abroad.

Her sea-going career began as Cadet on a liquid gas carrier operated by the giant BP Shipping, with whom she worked for ten years travelling from Japan to the Caribbean and "everywhere in between" on various types of oil and gas tankers and on steam and motor ships from small product carriers to VLCCs.

"I was extremely lucky to have found a job that I enjoyed" says Bridget. "The early years were fantastic and there was the added bonus of getting to travel the world. For four or five months at a time the ship was our home and the crew our adopted family."

"Being female never caused me any trouble at sea. It was never an issue being the only female on board but more about getting on with the job. Working on board ships is about team-work and not really about any individual."

With the birth of her daughter Gráinne, her freedom to sail deep sea became more constricted with the result that, in August 2007, she took up an appointment with specialist ship management company, Dobson Fleet Management, working with Irish Ferries.

Her first assignment was on board the Ireland/France cruise ferry 'Normandy' and, later, on its replacement vessel 'Oscar Wilde'. From it, she was transferred to the Dublin/Holyhead cruise ferry 'Ulysses', which she joined just two months ago.

Working on board the 51,000 ton 'Ulysses', Bridget's responsibilities include the workings of the four giant engines that power the world's largest car ferry.

With a combined output of 42,000 horse power, Bridget's task is to ensure that all of the ship's systems are fully functioning and that the vessel has the power it needs to carry its 2,000 passengers/crew, drive its 4kms of vehicle lane parking space with capacity for 1,342 cars or 240 articulated trucks and generate electrical power sufficient to light up a town like Westport.

Referring to her move to the Irish Ferries ships as one which has allowed her to have a bigger role in her daughter's life, Bridget says "being home for two weeks in every four, I can continue living in Leenane which I think is one of the most beautiful places on this planet."

Urging other young Irish girls to consider a career at sea, she describes it as "a good life which requires determination and a lot of responsibility."

"From graduation there is almost guaranteed employment with great promotional prospects and good pay," she added.

Away from shipping, Bridget's interests include reading, hill walking, music, travel and swimming.

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