Heiður Berglind
Celebrating Fishermen’s Day on deck
Heiður Berglind Þorsteinsdóttir is a thirty-year-old Marine Engineer on the Coast Guard ship Þór, alongside studying to become a Navigation Officer. Her interest in machinery can be traced back to her early childhood and she describes her work with the Icelandic Coast Guard as a rewarding job offering many opportunities.
Fishermen’s Day is celebrated in Iceland at the beginning of June each year to honor all fishermen. 66°North was founded in 1926 by Hans Kristjánsson with the purpose of making protective clothing for Icelandic fishermen and workers braving the North Atlantic elements. Weather conditions were extreme, and having suitable clothing was a matter of life and death. This year, we celebrate by providing insight into the life of Heiður, who shares how life at sea pleasantly surprised her.
"I have always been interested in machines and mechanical equipment, and how things work, but I wasn't entirely sure how to channel that interest. As soon as I started going out to sea, I realized that this was exactly what I was meant to do."
Heiður first started working on a longline fishing boat when she began studying marine engineering at the age of 21. Before that, she couldn’t have imagined that her life would take this direction, leading her to work at sea a few years later. Heiður is happy with her choice; no day is the same, and both her studies and work offer diverse projects.
"I love trying new things; I find it enjoyable. That’s exactly what I love about the Coast Guard—there’s always something to learn, new challenges to face, and opportunities to grow."
Much has changed since Heiður started working on a longline fishing boat. Back then, there was no phone or internet connection, the trips lasted a week, and she had to share her cabin with other crew members. Today, both phone and internet connections are available when the boat is close enough to the coastline, and she gets her own cabin. Before she began her career, Heiður didn’t know any women working as Marine Engineers, but now she has met all kinds of women working at sea—women she would unlikely have encountered if her career had taken a different path. Heiður enjoys her job and encourages other women to apply for jobs at sea
“I had never heard of this career before I started studying and working in this field. As soon as I started going out to sea, I realized that this was exactly what I am supposed to do.”
“I had never heard of this career before I started studying and working in this field. As soon as I started going out to sea, I realized that this was exactly what I am supposed to do.”
Heiður reflects on the changing attitudes towards women at sea, acknowledging the progress made while remaining optimistic about the future.
“When I first started working on a fishing vessel, I was told that women don’t belong at sea. Fortunately, attitudes changed quickly. The Coast Guard treated me well from my first tour. Although some still believe I shouldn't be at sea, I am confident their views will change one day.”
A day in the life of a Marine Engineer is never the same. Heiður is responsible for maintaining all the machinery and among other tasks are electrical work, general maintenance, construction work and other duties to keep the coast guard ship Þór running smoothly.
“We also build various things that are needed, if there is a blockage or anything else, they call us. Marine engineering is incredibly diverse, and that is what I love about my job.”
When Heiður started working at the Icelandic Coast Guard, she planned to try just one shift, but she has now been there for three years. After her shift, Heiður usually goes to the gym and studies, but the crew also offers various classes, courses, movie nights and other fun activities. When it’s someone’s birthday, we make sure to celebrate by making a cake to go with the coffee and singing "Happy birthday".
“My biggest role model is my grandmother. She worked as a farmer and a teacher, and I spent a lot of time with her as a kid. She is the kind of person who doesn’t let anyone stop her and does exactly what she wants to do.”
On board Þór, there are excellent work facilities, including a large welding workshop and a well-equipped workshop featuring a substantial lathe and all the necessary tools. This set up allows for the construction and repair of various items as needed.
Each tour lasts three weeks, followed by three weeks off. During her time off, Heiður pursues her studies, travels abroad, and sometimes works on the ship while it’s docked when needed.
“This is much more enjoyable than one might think, and working at sea is incredibly rewarding. The only downside is occasionally missing family birthdays and other similar occasions with loved ones.”
On Sundays, officers and sailors dress formally in white shirts and ties during their shifts, and other crew members dress formally for dinner. Heiður says this is one of the biggest traditions that have persisted, as the maritime environment changes slowly and old customs are maintained. Sundays are also rest days, and Heiður often uses them to build something at the workshop, go to the gym or enjoy activities with the crew.
On other days, strict attention is paid to ensuring that crew members are in correct uniforms, making it easy to identify their roles on board. This follows the same rules as other naval ships, which Þór and Freyja works closely with.
In her younger years, Heiður spent a lot of time in the countryside with her grandparents, where her interest in machines and mechanical equipment sparked. She amusingly recalls how her grandmother taught her to stand up for herself:
“My biggest role model is my grandmother. She worked as a farmer and a teacher, and I spent a lot of time with her as a kid. She is the kind of person who doesn’t let anyone stop her and does exactly what she wants to do.”
Heiður enjoys life at sea and hopes to still be sailing in ten years, having completed her studies in becoming Navigation Officer, and wonders whether she will be working as a Marine Engineer or up in the Bridge as a Watch Officer, while being open for any possibilities that could come in her way.
“Working at sea is incredibly rewarding. I enjoy the time spent aboard the boat. There are always people around, you make good friends The greatest feeling is stepping onto the deck and being surrounded by nothing but the endless seaand the sense of freedom surrounding you.”
