They used to say a woman on a ship brings bad luck. But Anna Shchetinina proved them all wrong — and made global history.
In 1935, long before women were seen as equals at sea, she became the world’s first female captain of a long-distance cargo ship. And it didn’t happen in some progressive Western country — but in the USSR. So how did she make it happen?
A Woman at Sea
Anna Ivanovna Shchetinina was born on February 26, 1908, in the Ussuri region.
She went to a regular school in another village and had to walk there every day. In winter, she skated across the frozen sea to get to her classes.
After graduating, Anna decided to apply to a maritime college — but they were reluctant to accept her simply because she was a woman. It wasn’t until she wrote a personal letter to the head of the school that they finally allowed her to take the entrance exams.
Despite tough competition and strict requirements, Anna was accepted into the navigation program.
The training was challenging, and there was no stipend. Many ship captains refused to take a woman on board for internship. But there were a few who chose to look past her gender.
Thanks to them, Anna managed to gain hands-on experience working as a general deckhand on various ships while still in school. After graduation, she began moving up the ranks. She worked as:
- a first-class sailor
- a trainee navigator
- third, second, and then chief officer
On January 25, 1932, Anna received her long-distance captain’s license.
The First Voyage
Anna's first ship as captain was the cargo vessel Hohenfels. She sailed it from Hamburg all the way to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky — a journey that sparked international headlines.
Her successful maiden voyage brought her global fame. Crowds would gather to greet her in ports, applauding her achievement. Maritime professionals around the world acknowledged that women, too, could command long-haul ships.
Anna captained that vessel for two years. Later, she was invited to help reorganize the fishing port in Vladivostok. At the same time, she completed a correspondence course in navigation at the Leningrad Institute of Water Transport Engineers.
During World War II, Anna took part in the evacuation of civilians from Tallinn and transported critical military cargo. For her service, she was awarded the Order of Lenin.
Later, she helped move military equipment during preparations for the war with Japan. After the war, the long-distance captain began teaching at the Leningrad Marine College.
A street in Vladivostok now bears her name, and she is listed among the Great Women of the 20th Century. She made her mark in history as someone who never gave up on her dream.
Anna Shchetinina passed on her vast knowledge to a new generation of sailors — and proved to the world that love for the sea knows no gender.
⚓ Can you be captain?
Answer the questions and see where you stand!
1. Do you know how to make decisions in difficult situations?
