For most passengers boarding a boat, the captain is the last person they think about.
For captain Shyreen Kuyere, that responsibility begins long before the vessel leaves the shore. She must assess the weather, ensure the vessel is ready for the journey, guide the crew and safely navigate the waters of Lake Malawi.
At only 23, she is among few women in Malawi working as a ship captain in a profession where men have traditionally dominated.
As a navigational officer on watch holding a Marine competency certificate Class IV, Shyreen is responsible for the safe navigation and tactical manoeuvring of large vessels such as MV Ilala.
On smaller vessels, she serves as the master— commanding engineers and other seamen while managing the crew’s daily operations.
It is a career that demands technical skill, quick decision-making and calmness under pressure.
Yet, becoming a captain was never part of her childhood dream.
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She was raised by her single mother, Melina Chilembwe, whose determination to educate her children laid the foundation for Shyreen’s own resilience.
She attended Thambolangwa Primary School before proceeding to Mphunzi Community Secondary School in Dedza and later Nakhwali Community Day Secondary School in Mangochi.
After completing her Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examinations in 2019, Shyreen spent months at home applying to different colleges, unsure of which career path to take.
Everything changed in 2021 when someone introduced her to maritime studies.
“From that day I became curious. I wanted to know more about the profession. I told myself I would go to that school no matter what,” she recalls.
Shyreen’s decision surprised many.
Some warned her that the maritime profession was too difficult while others insisted it was a career reserved for men.
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