Mikael, whose real name is something else, graduated as a sea captain at the Kalmar Maritime University in the spring of 2025. Since then, he has worked as a third mate on a Norwegian tanker that transports chemicals around the world. After some consideration, he has chosen to tell the other crew members that he is gay.
– It is very nice to be able to be open about who you are and so far I have not encountered any direct problems because of it. But I have received several questions about it from my Filipino colleagues. Other nationalities may have a different view of LGBTQ+-issues than we do in our part of the world, says Mikael.
When he was on the ship-based part of the naval officer training, however, he avoided talking about his private life. This was to avoid the risk of being judged, based on his sexual orientation.
It is still relatively dangerous to be an LGBTQ+-person today, and perhaps even more so at sea where you can easily be isolated for a long time.
It is still relatively dangerous to be an LGBTQ+-person today, and perhaps even more so at sea where you can easily be isolated for a long time.– It is still relatively dangerous to be an LGBTQ+-person today, and perhaps even more so at sea where you can easily be isolated for a long time. On some boats I told a few people I trusted, but otherwise I refrained from saying anything.
Nevertheless, it was not primarily the fear of being excluded that made him cautious, he says.
– No, it was more about the fact that I did not want the view of me and my work to be colored by my sexual orientation. It felt like I would have had to work much harder to achieve respect if I had told. I want to be judged based on my achievements, not by who I am with.
Mikael says that shipping is generally conservative and lags behind other industries when it comes to LGBTQ+-issues. It is also something he notices in the atmosphere on board.
– On many boats, there is still a jargon where people joke in a way that puts others at risk of harm, he says.
He says that he himself does not mind questions about how he lives, provided that he feels safe and has chosen to be open about his private life.
– I would like to give my perspective. There is an ignorance about this that can almost create fear and that risks leading to darker things. If you have questions, I think it is good to ask them, but most of all I want to focus on the work. Doing the best job possible is always my focus.
He notes that senior officers have a special responsibility to create a safe working environment and set the tone for how the crew talk to each other.
– Let the captains meet an LGBTQ+-ambassador. Maybe such a meeting can sow a seed. And buy a pride flag and keep it in the flag inventory. It may never be used but just letting people know it exists can make it easier for those who haven’t yet spoken out, says Mikael.
The acronym LGBTQ+ is a collective term for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender people, queer and intersex people.