In Episode 265 of the Women Offshore Podcast, we speak with Captain Kamila Calko, MNI, founder and owner of SeaLight and founder and director of SeaLight Sisters.
Kamila’s maritime career began at 19, when she applied to become a ship’s captain despite having no seafaring background. That first opportunity led to more than two decades at sea and experience aboard more than 30 vessels, including BC Coast tugboats, Canadian Coast Guard icebreakers, and passenger ro-ro ferries.
She eventually became the first and only woman to qualify for the Pacific Pilotage Authority’s exams, navigating demanding conditions while building a career in some of the most challenging sectors of the industry.
But Kamila’s experience at sea also exposed another set of challenges. She saw how shipboard culture and the pressures placed on women in maritime could affect careers, well-being, and whether talented professionals chose to remain in the industry.
Today, she is using that experience to support others. Through SeaLight and the Canadian charity SeaLight Sisters, Kamila provides advocacy, trauma-informed support, legal literacy resources, and other services designed to help women and gender-diverse seafarers navigate difficult situations and remain connected to their careers.
In this conversation, Kamila reflects on her career at sea, the lessons she learned along the way, and why she believes maritime professionals are stronger when they have a network of support around them.
This episode offers an honest look at leadership, career resilience, safety, and the work needed to build a maritime industry where the next generation can navigate their careers with greater confidence and support.
