UAE’s first female crane operator

Abu Dhabi Ports and Abu Dhabi Terminals' commitment to empowering Emirati talent has produced tangible results with the emergence of the first UAE female crane operator who controls one of the gigantic super-post-Panamax cranes at the Khalifa Port.
She could have stayed a clerical worker in a convenient and well-furnished office environment, but Ayesha Hassan AbdulRahman Al Marzooqi chose differently. The 28-year old Emirati was looking for a new challenge and a hands-on position that was different from anything she had done before.
"I watched a documentary about a female pilot in the UAE Air Force who truly inspired me. Before I started my training at Khalifa Port container terminal, I was given a tour of the port facilities and the ship-to-shore quay cranes really fascinated me. I felt this was my calling and I decided to become a crane operator," she explained.
Today, Ayesha works at Abu Dhabi Ports' flagship Khalifa Port, the first semi-automated port in the GCC region and one of the most technologically advanced ports around the globe, as the first female quay crane operator in the UAE and controls one of the port's gigantic super-post-Panamax cranes.
With a height of 126.5m and a weight of 1,932 tons, the super-post-Panamax is one of the largest and most modern ship-to-shore quay crane in the world today. The crane is used to unload container vessels and has an outreach of 65m (22 containers) and a lifting capacity of 90 tons – the same weight as 48 four-wheel drives.
Ayesha is in the final phase of her training programme, which allows her to work independently on the port site. Her workplace is a small, see-through cabin right underneath the crane's boom, some 60m above the ground. From here, she overlooks the container vessel beneath her feet and directs the spreader, a specialised tool which is connected via several steel ropes to the crane's framework.
Ayesha is one of 23 Emirati trainees, including four other women, who are currently taking part in the ADT training programme that is being conducted by ADT's internationally certified and experienced in-house instructors. The programme covers the different tasks and role functions at the container terminal.
"As the Middle East develops into one of the top global trade lanes, the local maritime industry promises significant growth. In order to cater for this growth, Abu Dhabi Ports is focused on the recruitment and development of Emiratis to build the next generation of highly qualified maritime professionals to support the diversification of the economy for the future of this country," said Capt. Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO, Abu Dhabi Ports.
"One of ADT's top strategic priorities has always been to train and develop Emiratis to join the fast growing ports industry. As a result of this, we have almost double the number of Emirati nationals within a year; ranging from senior and middle management to supervisory and practical roles," according to Eisa Hassan Al Marzooqi, Senior HR Director, ADT.
"Our comprehensive on-the-job training for Emiratis started two years ago and we are immense proud that Ayesha Al Marzooqi joined ADT to become the first female Emirati crane operator", added Al Marzouqi "Being an innovative ports operating company, we are dedicated to the development of UAE talent and will continue to create new job openings. It is our continued ambition that our Emirati training programme grows each year along with the significant growth of ADT," said Martijn van de Linde, CEO, ADT.
"I am very happy to be part of this exciting industry and grateful to be given so much support and assistance. By being the first female quay crane operator in the UAE, I hope I will inspire other Emiratis to follow their ambitions, take on challenges and serve their country," said Ayesha who will be finishing her training programme to become a certified quay crane operator in a few weeks' time, ahead of schedule.
Source: WAM