Sara McQuillan talks about International Women in Maritime day

May 18 marks the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) annual International Women in Maritime day, and in honour of it, we asked one of the members of our team to speak to us about her experiences of working offshore, and how her gender might have impacted her compared to her male colleagues.

Q: Hi Sara, thank you for agreeing to speak to us, could you describe your journey into hydrographic surveying and what drew you to work at sea in this specialised field?

A: I studied Geography at university and became interested in geospatial information systems which led me to pursue a hydrographic survey course. This opened the door for me to join an offshore construction company as a graduate hydrographic surveyor. Despite not knowing much about the offshore industry, I enjoyed the discipline and thought I would give it a go. Little did I know, it would become something I am so passionate about! Fifteen years later, I’m still working with fantastic hydrographic survey professionals developing technical guidance to support other survey professionals and supporting programs to ensure safety and quality offshore.

Q: What did a typical day look like for you onboard, and what were some of the most memorable or challenging projects you've worked on?

A: At the start of a job, during mobilisation, the surveyor has a lot of work to do – installation of sensors, calibrations, verifications, setting up the navigation software, liaising with the relevant teams for the job (ROV/Dive/Marine/OM) to ensure the team was prepared. After a couple of years offshore, my preferred shift was midnight to noon and although this meant I was usually the only surveyor on shift and there was minimal onshore support available, it was quieter and I enjoyed the responsibility. 

I would be responsible for ensuring all the survey sensors were operating as required, and to the accuracy expected. That all necessary data was provided in real time to the required teams on board, logged and reported. I was primarily based on construction vessels, so my day to day would involve positioning support for subsea installations.

In 2013 I took part in the Guara-Lula project offshore of Brazil which was the development of a field in the Santos pre-salt basin. This project was a completely different kettle of fish for the survey team on this vessel after years in the UK, the North Sea and Norway. The operations involved were in 2km of water depth and therefore required the use of a wide suite of sensors to obtain accurate subsea positioning in deep water. This required the installation and maintenance of two very large (18 transponder) subsea positioning arrays along with high grade ROV based sensors for the installation operations. This was a very busy project working in a small survey team of five. It was the best project I worked on as it was the time I learned the most. It was incredibly busy and I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way!

Q: How has your experience been as a woman working in the maritime sector, particularly in the often male-dominated environment of offshore surveying?

A: I am fortunate to have discovered a field I am passionate about. Hydrographic Survey, as a scientific discipline, draws academics who are dedicated and focused on their work. However, the general offshore environment when I began in 2010, was challenging  and I was often singled out for my gender. On a vessel of around 120 people, there would have been around five women on board. Sexism and misogyny was always present  but not acknowledged, addressed or prevented. Thankfully, towards the end of my offshore career, things started to change. More women were present and that alone changed the dynamic away from being solely a male world. In my offshore space, attitudes were shifting towards an environment where gender wasn’t noted. However,  there was, and still is, a way to go but I was glad to see it moving.

Q: Have you noticed any shifts in how women are perceived or supported in maritime careers since you began, and what further changes would you like to see?

A: In 2025 I am happy to see there are more opportunities for women in the Maritime sector and a move towards a more gender balanced workforce. In my opinion this is down to some of the incredible professionals across the world who forged through male-dominated environments and changed perceptions, not just by those currently in the space, but also by those looking to enter it.

In general, the maritime industry seems to be prioritising diversity by focusing on attracting women to careers in the sector. Initiatives run by organisations like the Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) and the IMO promote inclusive policies, recruitment, and education for women. Simply changing the gender balance should open doors and careers for those who may not have considered it previously, changing these spaces for everyone, but particularly women.

Q: What advice would you offer to young women considering a career in hydrographic surveying or maritime more broadly?

A: If you enjoy a subject, go for it. If you are apprehensive of entering a male dominated place because of your gender, just get in, take up space, work hard, earn respect, make it your space. Don’t allow your gender to define what you can do.

As for Hydrographic Survey and Hydrography in general, it is full of women. Fantastic academics and practical professionals, working across many different industries, developing new technologies and working within a real-world environment. It’s a fantastic discipline to enter with endless possibilities for careers supporting things like mapping the unknown parts of the ocean, Global Positioning Systems, climate change and environmental sustainability (among others) whilst using and developing state-of-the-art technology. It’s an exciting place to be, come join us.