Anna Shchetinina
Encyclopedia
Anna Ivanovna Shchetinina was a Soviet merchant marine sailor, said to be the world's first woman to serve as a captain
of an ocean-going vessel.
Shchetinina was born at the Okeanskaya Station near Vladivostok
in a family of a railway switchman
. In 1925 she entered the navigation department of the Vladivostok Marine School (Владивостокский морской техникум). After graduation she worked with a shipping company in Kamchatka Peninsula, where she strarted as an Ordinary Seaman
(or, rather, "Seawoman"), and rose to a captain. At the age of 24 she received her navigator
's license (qualifying her for a position equivalent to a Second Mate
in the Western merchant marines), and at 27 became the world's first female captain of an ocean-going ship. She attracted international attention on her first voyage as a captain (in 1935), as a young woman in charge of MV Chavycha on its journey from Hamburg
(where it had just been purchased) to the Russian Far East
around Europe, Africa, and Asia.
On March 20, 1938, Shchetinina became the first chief manager of the Vladivostok
fishing port. Later the same year, however, she went back to school, now at Leningrad Ship Transport Institute (Ленинградский институт водного транспорта).
She participated in World War II
in the Baltic, where her ship was evacuating people from Tallinn
and transporting war cargoes under enemy bombardment.
Later during the war she was the master of a Liberty ship
moving Lend-lease
supplies across the Pacific from the USA to Soviet Far Eastern ports.
After the War Ms. Shchetinina served as the captain of MV Askold, Baskunchak, Beloostrov, Dniester, Pskov, and Mendeleev of the Soviet Baltic Shipping Company. Since in 1949 she taught in the Leningrad Marine Engineering College (Ленинградское высшее инженерно-морское училище); in 1951 she became a senior instructor there, and later, the Dean of the Institute's Navigation Department. In 1956 she was granted the title of "docent." In 1960 she accepted the position of a docent (associate professor) at the Department of Sea Craft" (Морское дело]) at Vladivostok Marine Engineering and Navigation College (Владивостокское высшее инженерное мореходное училище).
Anna Ivanovna Shchetinina was awarded the medal of the Hero of Socialist Labor
, which was one of the two highest awards of the USSR. She was also honored as a Distinguished Worker of the Merchant Marine (Почетный работник Морского флота) an honorary citizen of Vladivostok, an honorary member of the Far-Eastern Association of Shipmasters and The International Federation of Shipmasters' Associations
(IFSMA), and received a number of other national and international awards.
She published a book entitled On the Seas and Beyond the Seas («На морях и за морями»), and was admitted as a member into the Union of Russian Writers.
A monument in honor of A.I. Shchetinina has been erected in the old Maritime Cemetery in Vladivostok
. On October 20, 2006
Cape Shchetinina on the shore of the Amur Bay
of the Sea of Japan
was named in her honor.
Captain (nautical)
A sea captain is a licensed mariner in ultimate command of the vessel. The captain is responsible for its safe and efficient operation, including cargo operations, navigation, crew management and ensuring that the vessel complies with local and international laws, as well as company and flag...
of an ocean-going vessel.
Shchetinina was born at the Okeanskaya Station near Vladivostok
Vladivostok
The city is located in the southern extremity of Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula, which is about 30 km long and approximately 12 km wide.The highest point is Mount Kholodilnik, the height of which is 257 m...
in a family of a railway switchman
Railroad switch
A railroad switch, turnout or [set of] points is a mechanical installation enabling railway trains to be guided from one track to another at a railway junction....
. In 1925 she entered the navigation department of the Vladivostok Marine School (Владивостокский морской техникум). After graduation she worked with a shipping company in Kamchatka Peninsula, where she strarted as an Ordinary Seaman
Ordinary Seaman (occupation)
An ordinary seaman is an unlicensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship. The position is an apprenticeship to become an able seaman, and has been for centuries...
(or, rather, "Seawoman"), and rose to a captain. At the age of 24 she received her navigator
Navigator
A navigator is the person on board a ship or aircraft responsible for its navigation. The navigator's primary responsibility is to be aware of ship or aircraft position at all times. Responsibilities include planning the journey, advising the Captain or aircraft Commander of estimated timing to...
's license (qualifying her for a position equivalent to a Second Mate
Second Mate
A second mate or second officer is a licensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship. The second mate is the third in command and a watchkeeping officer, customarily the ship's navigator. Other duties vary, but the second mate is often the medical officer and in charge of maintaining...
in the Western merchant marines), and at 27 became the world's first female captain of an ocean-going ship. She attracted international attention on her first voyage as a captain (in 1935), as a young woman in charge of MV Chavycha on its journey from Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
(where it had just been purchased) to the Russian Far East
Russian Far East
Russian Far East is a term that refers to the Russian part of the Far East, i.e., extreme east parts of Russia, between Lake Baikal in Eastern Siberia and the Pacific Ocean...
around Europe, Africa, and Asia.
On March 20, 1938, Shchetinina became the first chief manager of the Vladivostok
Vladivostok
The city is located in the southern extremity of Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula, which is about 30 km long and approximately 12 km wide.The highest point is Mount Kholodilnik, the height of which is 257 m...
fishing port. Later the same year, however, she went back to school, now at Leningrad Ship Transport Institute (Ленинградский институт водного транспорта).
She participated in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in the Baltic, where her ship was evacuating people from Tallinn
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
and transporting war cargoes under enemy bombardment.
Later during the war she was the master of a Liberty ship
Liberty ship
Liberty ships were cargo ships built in the United States during World War II. Though British in conception, they were adapted by the U.S. as they were cheap and quick to build, and came to symbolize U.S. wartime industrial output. Based on vessels ordered by Britain to replace ships torpedoed by...
moving Lend-lease
Lend-Lease
Lend-Lease was the program under which the United States of America supplied the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, China, Free France, and other Allied nations with materiel between 1941 and 1945. It was signed into law on March 11, 1941, a year and a half after the outbreak of war in Europe in...
supplies across the Pacific from the USA to Soviet Far Eastern ports.
After the War Ms. Shchetinina served as the captain of MV Askold, Baskunchak, Beloostrov, Dniester, Pskov, and Mendeleev of the Soviet Baltic Shipping Company. Since in 1949 she taught in the Leningrad Marine Engineering College (Ленинградское высшее инженерно-морское училище); in 1951 she became a senior instructor there, and later, the Dean of the Institute's Navigation Department. In 1956 she was granted the title of "docent." In 1960 she accepted the position of a docent (associate professor) at the Department of Sea Craft" (Морское дело]) at Vladivostok Marine Engineering and Navigation College (Владивостокское высшее инженерное мореходное училище).
Anna Ivanovna Shchetinina was awarded the medal of the Hero of Socialist Labor
Hero of Socialist Labor
Hero of Socialist Labour was an honorary title in the Soviet Union and other Warsaw Pact countries. It was the highest degree of distinction for exceptional achievements in national economy and culture...
, which was one of the two highest awards of the USSR. She was also honored as a Distinguished Worker of the Merchant Marine (Почетный работник Морского флота) an honorary citizen of Vladivostok, an honorary member of the Far-Eastern Association of Shipmasters and The International Federation of Shipmasters' Associations
International Federation of Shipmasters' Associations
The International Federation of Shipmasters' Associations , is the international professional organisation that unites and represents the world's serving Shipmasters....
(IFSMA), and received a number of other national and international awards.
She published a book entitled On the Seas and Beyond the Seas («На морях и за морями»), and was admitted as a member into the Union of Russian Writers.
A monument in honor of A.I. Shchetinina has been erected in the old Maritime Cemetery in Vladivostok
Vladivostok
The city is located in the southern extremity of Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula, which is about 30 km long and approximately 12 km wide.The highest point is Mount Kholodilnik, the height of which is 257 m...
. On October 20, 2006
Cape Shchetinina on the shore of the Amur Bay
Amur Bay
Amur Bay is a north western part of Peter the Great Gulf.Its length is 65 km, width is 10-20 km, and depth is approximately 20 m....
of the Sea of Japan
Sea of Japan
The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, between the Asian mainland, the Japanese archipelago and Sakhalin. It is bordered by Japan, North Korea, Russia and South Korea. Like the Mediterranean Sea, it has almost no tides due to its nearly complete enclosure from the Pacific...
was named in her honor.