Boatnerd Discussion Forum

There are several female mates and engineers in the algoma tanker fleet

Quote from http://www.boatnerd.com/pictures/fleet/comeaud.htm

"the Comeaudoc also had the distinction of being commanded by the first Canadian lady Captain: Captain Lillian Kluka."

Believe back in 2007 there was a female third mate on the Algolake.

A woman named Danuta Barcikowska was captain of Polish Steamship Company's Nogat on at least one trip to the Lakes in 2003, and is listed as likely being the first female captain of an oceangoing vessel to visit Duluth-Superior. Not sure if she was the first female captain to command a saltie anywhere on the Lakes-Seaway system, though.

Captain Emma Nolan also sailed as Captain for LLT

Believe it or not. Madeline just turned 2 and she loves the pictures while I read. Her favorite is the large picture of John B Ford. Oh children!

I shall say, I am impressed with the book and the credit given to the Hennepin. I scuba occasionally with the Sea Hunt Dive Club and know Gary Passion from the Southwest Michigan Underwater Preserve. Growing up in the Grand Haven area, I have found your clarification on the Bass River Recreation Area and its contribution to the Chicago development quite interesting.

Nice book!

My daughter and I are reading "Buckets and Belts", about the conversions and history of the Great Lakes Self Unloader, as our bedtime book.

I truly never imagined this readership niche for the book!

The first licensed female captain on the Great Lakes was Mrs. Celia Person who sailed as Captain of the steamer Florence in 1891.

It was the Florence C., Russ, a small, apparently undocumented steamer that ran the mail on Thunder Bay at the end of the nineteenth century. I believe her husband commanded the Thunder Bay Life Saving Station at the time.

The first licensed female captain on the Great Lakes was Mrs. Celia Person who sailed as Captain of the steamer Florence in 1891. The first female captain on the Great lakes in modern times was Lillian Kluka. She sailed as Captain of several boats in the Paterson fleet between 1986 and 1994 befre retiring in 1994. She was on the Comeaudoc (1986, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993), Vandoc (1987, 1988), and Paterson (1994). Emma Nolan sailed as Captain of the Maritime Trader for Voyageur Marine in 2007. There are currently a small number of women sailing as Mates and assistant engineers. The majority of women who have sailed on the Great Lakes served as Chief Cooks, Second Cooks, and porters.

My daughter and I are reading "Buckets and Belts", about the conversions and history of the Great Lakes Self Unloader, as our bedtime book. I want to enlighten her on Womens roles in the shipping industry. Is there any officer/captain level Female's working on the Great Lakes?

Thanks in advance!

Andy