Maritime Administrator Welcomes Cadets to Annual Women on the Water Conference

Maritime Administrator Mark H. Buzby welcomed female cadets from the seven U.S. maritime academies to the 10th annual Women on the Water Conference, held November 1-3 in Castine, Maine. 

The conference, sponsored by the Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) in partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD), showcases the successes of women in the maritime industry.

“The demand for a highly trained mariner workforce increases daily,” said Administrator Buzby.  “By providing our female cadets with the opportunity to learn from other female maritime industry leaders, we hope to inspire them to greater levels of achievement in their careers.”

The Women on the Water Conference, held annually at one of the seven maritime academies across the country, focuses on encouraging female cadets at the start of their career by providing them with access to the maritime industry’s top female professionals.  The conference includes speeches, workshops, and mock interview sessions that provide cadets with one-on-one mentoring, leaving them better prepared to enter the maritime workforce.

During his welcome address, Administrator Buzby emphasized how vital the contributions of female mariners are to the success of the maritime industry, and encouraged the cadets to prepare themselves for the dynamic new jobs and service sectors that will open up as a result of the rapid technological changes that are taking place within the maritime industry.

This year’s keynote speaker is Captain Deborah Dempsey.  A graduate of the MMA, Capt. Dempsey was the first woman to graduate from a maritime academy and the first female master mariner.  

The Maritime Administration is charged with maintaining the vitality of our merchant marine.  The Women on the Water conference aligns with that mission by encouraging cadets to pursue diverse careers in a constantly changing trade.