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.
Born on November 26 2003, Shyreen comes from Thambolangwa Village, Traditional Authority Kachere in Dedza District, but now lives in Malembo Village in Mangochi District.
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.
“They even joked the profession is called ‘seamen’ and not ‘seawomen’,” she says with a laugh.
Rather than discourage her, those remarks strengthened her determination.
Shyreen also found inspiration in the late captain Lonnie Kalua-Manduwi, Malawi’s first female marine captain.
“I admired how people looked up to her. I wanted to be like her so that one day people would admire me too and know that women can also become captains,” she adds.
In July 2021, Kuyere enrolled at Malawi Marine Training College for a Certificate of Able Seafarers.
The five-week programme introduced her to navigation, maritime safety and the fundamentals of working at sea.
The real learning, however, began after she left the classroom.
In August that year, she joined The Foods Company Limited’s Maldeco Fisheries for a one-year internship aboard fishing vessels operating between Mangochi and Nkhotakota.
She was the only woman in a crew of seven.
There, Shyreen learnt how to plot voyages, manoeuvre vessels, enforce safety procedures, command crews and understand commercial fishing operations.
But adapting to life on the lake was not easy.
“In my early days, I suffered from seasickness and dizziness. It took me about eight months before my body got used to being on the water,” she says.
Being the only woman on board presented challenges beyond the job itself.
Shyreen says:”It was tough initially. You cannot even share problems that are specific to women with men, especially those that are too private.”
She says there were days she had to work despite menstrual pain because the responsibility of commanding a vessel could not wait.
“You may not be feeling well, but you are the master of the vessel. You cannot simply ask for leave because it is your menstrual period. With time, you get used to it and it becomes easier.”
“I challenged myself to behave like the men because I knew I had to fit into the profession.”
Shyreen believes courage and hard work, rather than gender, define a good captain.
After completing her internship, she joined Malawi Lake Services in August 2022, as an officer on watch MV Ilala.
Again, she found herself as the only woman, this time among a crew of 41.
The experience broadened her knowledge of passenger management, navigation and operating safety boats.
Determined to climb the professional ladder, she returned to Malawi Marine Training College in February 2023 to pursue a Marine Class IV qualification.
After completing the six-month course, she joined Sunbird where she became the master of the company’s speedboats and other small vessels, supervising crews and managing water sports operations.
Although she enjoyed the responsibility, she says the job often felt lonely.
“I liked my work, but unlike at Maldeco and Ilala, I was alone. There was no one to discuss ideas with or share knowledge about the profession. In every job you need colleagues who help you grow.”
Working on Lake Malawi has also taught her to respect nature.
She says understanding the lake is as important as understanding the vessel.
“You have to master the whole lake if you want to prevent accidents,” she says.
Strong winds, thick fog and heavy rains remain some of the biggest dangers.
Shyreen recalls that some smaller vessels did not have Global Positioning Systems (GPS) or echo sounders, making navigation during poor visibility extremely difficult.
“When there is thick fog, you cannot see properly. Without GPS or an echo sounder, manoeuvring becomes very difficult,” she says.
One incident remains deeply etched in her memory.
While working at Sunbird, she was taking tourists to Bird Island to see fish eagles and colourful mbuna fish. Among the passengers was a couple from Zambia celebrating their wedding anniversary.
Halfway through the trip, strong winds, locally known as chilopola, swept across the lake.
The passengers panicked.
She said they started crying and calling their relatives.
“I think because they were being driven by a woman, some became even more worried,” she notes.
Back on shore, friends who had remained behind had already gathered at the beach, fearing the worst.
But Shyreen remained calm.
She carefully manoeuvred the boat through the rough waters and safely brought everyone back to shore.
“When we arrived, they apologised for doubting me. That was the day I felt I had truly become a captain.”
Today, Shyreen continues to serve as an officer on watch while pursuing higher professional qualifications.
Her ambition is to attain a Marine Class I Certificate of Competency, the highest qualification for ship captains in Malawi.
So far, only two Malawian women have reached that level—the late Manduwi and captain Chipiliro Mponda.
Shyreen hopes to become the third.
The journey, however, is a long one.
Malawi depends on only one marine training institution, the Malawi Marine Training College, where higher navigation classes are offered years apart because of the small size of the maritime industry.
“The marine industry is small, so recruitment for higher classes can happen after several years. That means completing the qualifications takes a very long time,” she says.
Rather than wait for the next intake, Shyreen decided to continue building herself academically.
She enrolled for a bachelor of accountancy at Daeyang University and is now in her third year.
Despite pursuing a different academic programme, her dream remains firmly anchored on the water.
Looking back, Shyreen believes her biggest achievement is not simply becoming a captain, but proving that women belong in professions traditionally reserved for men.
She hopes her story will encourage more girls to pursue careers based on their abilities rather than stereotypes.
“If you have courage and you are willing to work hard, you can succeed. Being a captain is not about whether you are a man or a woman. It is about discipline, competence and believing in yourself.”
