The Lady Captain of Cunard

Описание: Sometimes we have the luck and privilege to meet extraordinary persons who make great contributions with their talent, remarkable accomplishments or with their important humanitarian actions to the World. I have had, as a writer, many opportunities to meet with many exceptional human beings. I especially admire women who are able to accomplish great things in everyday life.

I was honored to have a rare interview with Captain Inger Klein Olsen who is the first female Captain of the 170-year old and male dominated Cunard ship company. Even Mark Twain mentioned once "The folks at Cunard wouldn't appoint Noah himself as captain until he had worked his way up through the ranks". Inger Klein Olsen has just done that with brilliance and it took her 16 years of continues education to reach this high rank. (1994 - 2010). Captain Olsen was born and grew up in the rugged and windblown Faroe Islands and after moving to Denmark in 1989 she worked on a cargo ship as stewardess during her school holidays. She joined the "Scandinavian Seaways" as cadet when she was just 16 years old. Then she steadily worked up the ranks with great success.

She got her Master's license in 1994 while working for different ship companies also for Cunard, like on the Vistafjord. Captain Olsen assumed command of the Queen Victoria December 1, 2010. As a woman in this so unique position she is very honored and respected by the crew and passengers alike. Captain Olsen's main goal next to the welfare and safety of everybody on board, is to care about the fragile environment with recycling and water saving.

Captain Olsen has her home in Svendborg, Denmark where she enjoys her family, her house with gorgeous garden and also her hobbies - playing the saxophone, going to concerts or knitting sweaters. She plans to marry her fiancé in July of this year.

As my eyes wandered across the dark blue water masses over the last resting place of the historical RMS Titanic on the board of the beautiful ship MS Queen Victoria, at the end of March 2012, I thought - this will not happen under the watch of this Captain, who truly has broken through that mystical "glass ceiling" and earned the highest rank with hard work and perseverance in the civil ship industry as the first female Captain of Cunard.

With many thanks to Captain Inger Klein Olsen for the interview and to Emma Prangle, Captain Olsen 's Secretary for her so kind assistance to do this report.

Some shakiness in this video caused by the ship movements because of high waves.


Video by Emma Prangle and Jutka T. Emoke Barabas on the board of the MS Queen Victoria, March 2012

iMovie and video editing by Jutka T. Emoke Barabas

Some facts about the MS Queen Victoria

Speed; 23.7 knots
Gross Tonnage; 90.000 GRT
Guest Capacity; 2014
Number of crew; 1003
Length; 964.5 ft
Width; 106 ft
Draft; 26,2 ft
Hight; 205 ft keel to funnel
Decks; 16 total, 12 passenger
Maiden voyage 2007
Registered in Hamilton, Bermuda