Breaking waves and barriers
She began her maritime journey by peeling potatoes in the ship’s galley. Today, Maria Mxylanda Reyes stands on the bridge as Chief Officer – all while raising two children.
When Maria first stepped aboard a Wallenius vessel, she had no idea she would one day become the first Filipina to rise through the company’s officer ranks. She was a young, unqualified mother working as a mess attendant – cleaning cabins and washing dishes – yet the Swedish culture on board offered her something unexpected: dignity.
A culture of respect and opportunity
Her story at sea began in 2009, when a friend recruited Maria – then an architecture student with a three-year-old son – to work on a cruise ship. Before long, she was offered a position at Wallenius Marine, which urgently needed a mess attendant ready to join a vessel. “I was reluctant at first. I didn’t even know there were women working on cargo ships,” she recalls.
That first contract on Don Juan changed everything. Maria loved life on board: the family-like crew, the sense of community and the Swedish work culture, with its focus on gender equality and open communication.
“They treated me with respect. I was mopping floors, but I never felt like the lowest rank. It opened my mind,” she says.
The captain who saw her potential
It was the ship’s captain who, through the Co-worker Dialogue programme, boosted Maria’s confidence and encouraged her to advance in her maritime career. “I was just happy to have a job,” she says.
“But he (the captain) saw potential in me, pushed me to study, and convinced Wallenius Marine to make an exception and sponsor me as a cadet”
“I owe everything to him and to the Wallenius teams in Stockholm and Singapore, who always cheered for me and believed in me.”
At the age of 27, Maria became the first woman ever to attend the Northern Philippines Maritime College. Even pregnancy did not stop her. She continued her studies – sometimes bringing her young son to class.
Leading on the bridge
Many questioned her decision to study and work abroad as a mother of two small children. But Maria was determined to create a better life. In 2013, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation and joined a new ship – this time as an officer. Last year, she finally stepped onto the bridge as Chief Officer. Today, her responsibilities include cargo operations, navigation, safety, leadership and day-to-day problem-solving for the 20-person crew.
“I want my crew to feel seen and heard. Small things for me are big things for them, so I always make time for them,” she says.
The hardest part: leaving her children
Life at sea is no walk in the park: powerful storms, seven-metre waves, and months away from home. But the hardest part has always been leaving her children. Her daughter was only four months old when Maria returned to sea on a six-month contract. “I was silently screaming on the aeroplane,” she admits. “That was the only time I questioned my career choice.”As the children grew older, FaceTime made it easier to stay in touch. Today, Maria’s son – a dentistry student – and her 13-year-old daughter are used to their mother being away for months at a time.
Family support behind the journey
Maria credits her career success to her husband, who made her journey possible by working close to home and taking care of the children. “I chose my career – that’s also my way of taking care of them. I bring home the money,” she says, as the family’s main breadwinner and a supporter of her parents as well.
The dream of becoming captain
Now Chief Officer on Tosca, a 200-metre cargo vessel sailing under the NIS flag with almost 4,000 vehicles on board, Maria remains deeply grateful to Wallenius Marine for supporting her career. She is proud to work for a company that is not only a trailblazer for women in the industry but also a frontrunner in reducing environmental impact.
Maria’s next, and ultimate goal is to become a captain.
“I want to be a good example for women and show them that we can do this too. You just need to find the right company – one that supports women, unlocks your potential and has strong policies that protect equal rights on board, like Wallenius does. And you need to toughen up – you can’t be a crybaby on board,” she says with a smile.
