Meet Elizabeth Marami, Kenya’s First Female Marine Pilot

Elizabeth Marami is forging a rare career path, breaking long-standing gender barriers as Kenya’s first female marine pilot.

Currently, she is working as the Second Officer in command on board the merchant navy foreign-going ships, a marine pilot at the Kenya Ports Authority.

She is also the founder of the Against The Tide Foundation, an initiative dedicated to promoting gender balance within the maritime industry.

Career Background

Elizabeth Marami launched her career as a deck cadet on the AIDA IV training ship in Alexandria, Egypt, serving from September 2011 to July 2012.

She then served briefly as a deck cadet with Namma Shipping Lines from November 2012 to January 2013.

Her career continued to develop at Kenya Ports Authority, where she served as a Marine Pilot Apprentice and Tug Master from April 2014 to February 2017.

During this period, she also took on the role of brand ambassador for Procter & Gamble’s “ALWAYS: Stand up and keep a girl in school” campaign between October 2015 and May 2016.

In October 2017, Elizabeth joined CMA CGM as a Deck Cadet with a Diploma, working there until April 2018.

She then moved to MSC Cruises in the United Kingdom, where she was the 3rd Deck Officer on the new-build MSC Grandiosa from December 2018 to February 2020.

Moreover, between July 2020 and July 2023, Elizabeth advanced through several positions at Celebrity Cruises in Miami, Florida.

She started as 2nd Officer on the Celebrity Edge, later becoming 1st Officer and Deputy Safety Officer.

She also managed deck maintenance and dry dock projects on Celebrity Edge from July 2023 to January 2024 and served as Chief Officer and Bridge Manager on Celebrity Beyond from January to July 2024.

Most recently, she was Chief Officer responsible for deck and hull maintenance on Celebrity Infinity from July 2024 to February 2025.

In May 2025, Elizabeth assumed her current role as Senior Marine Pilot at Kenya Ports Authority in Mombasa.

Alongside her professional career, she founded the Against the Tide Foundation in 2015, where she continues to serve as founder. Her skills encompass maritime operations, navigation, project management, and team leadership.

Also Read: Irene Koki Mutungi: Kenya’s First Female Boeing 787 Dreamliner Captain

Elizabeth Marami’s Educational Background

Marami’s educational background is anchored in maritime and business studies.

She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nautical Science from the Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport between 2009 and 2013. Elizabeth graduated with First Class Honors.

In 2016, she completed a certificate in Maritime Simulator and Maritime Resource Management at HSB Hochschule Bremen – City University of Applied Sciences.

Furthering her expertise, Elizabeth pursued a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Operations Management at the University of Nairobi, completing it in 2021.

Most recently, she attained a Higher National Diploma in Nautical Sciences from Warsash Maritime School, studying there from January to September 2022.

Also Read: Meet Linus Okoth, a Talented Kenyan Software Engineer Working at Meta

Achievements

Elizabeth has received several honors and awards recognizing her leadership and contributions to the maritime industry and society.

In March 2021, she was awarded the Mariam El Maawy Award by the First Lady of the Republic of Kenya for promoting gender equality by encouraging women and girls to pursue careers in the maritime sector.

In August 2016, she was named one of the Most Influential Young Kenyans, highlighting her impact in leadership and civil society.

Additionally, in August 2015, Elizabeth was recognized as one of the Top 40 Under 40 by Business Daily.

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