Captain Ayşe Aslı Başak of Turkey has been included on the list of “Ten Women to Watch in Shipping”, an award scheme organized by Nor-Shipping since 2017. An award ceremony will take place on 5 June as part of Nor-Shipping in Oslo.
The award seeks to increase awareness of women in the maritime industry. The awardees are elected from among young women professionals under 40 by Nor-Shipping administration and YoungShip Oslo, a Norwegian marine group made up of young professionals.
To be nominated for the award, a candidate must be be under 40 years of age, must have shown a passion for the maritime industry and its future development, must have demonstrated the ability to inspire others, exemplified strong interdepartmental or company-level leadership skills and decision-making qualities and demonstrated a willingness to teach and share knowledge with others. Another criterion is to have taken significant responsibility relevant to their career level. The award jury consisted of Norwegian Car Carriers CEO Olav Sollie, Nor-Shipping Technology and Sustainability Director Silje Bareksten, Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) International President and Tototheo Maritime CEO Despina Theodosiou, Simonsen Vogt Wiig partner Erlend Louis, Norwegian Hull Club CEO Hans Christian Seim and DOF Subsea ASA Vice President Marianne Mogster. The award scheme was first organized in 2017. It is a highly prestigious and influential event in world shipping as the winners are covered by the domestic and international media extensively during all Nor-Shipping events.
Cpt. Ayşe Aslı Başak
Başak currently is the Port Captain responsible for scrap and steel operations at French and Belgian ports with Mid-Ship Chartering & Logistics. She is the first woman captain at Mid-Ship, an examplary company where more than 50 percent of the employees at its Istanbul branch are women.
Başak, who graduated from Istanbul Technical University (İTÜ) School of Maritime summa cum laude, has held several posts in shipping including holding positions as board member and secretary general at Chamber of Marine Engineers (TMMOB GEMİMO) and İTÜ DEFAMED, the alumni group of İTÜ’s School of Maritime. She also played a major role in the formation of “Yakamoz” (Sea Sparkle), a women’s organization created by TMMOB GEMİMO and women marine industry professionals who are members of WISTA Turkey.
As a WISTA member of more than five years, she has also shared her academic work representing Turkish seawomen at Women in Maritime conerences held by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). She is also the Networking Group Vice President at the Young Entrepreneurs Council of the Turkey Union of Chambers (TOBB).
