Female Coast Guard CO makes history on CG28

Bourne did so when she captained the TTS Carli Bay (CG 28) on its maiden voyage from The Netherlands to Staubles Bay, Chaguaramas .

The CG 28 and the TTS Moruga (CG 27) arrived in Trinidad on Monday, having completed a three-week voyage across the Atlantic Ocean from the Port of Gorinchem, Gorinchem, Netherlands where they were built by Dutch shipbuilder, Damen Schelde (Damen) .

These two vessels are the most recent delivery in a 12-vessel order made by the TT Government back in May 2015. The first six vessels were delivered in July 2015 .

In between posing for photos with girls from the TT Cadet Force’s Naval Cadets from the Naval Cadet Unit at Holy Faith Convent, Couva, Bourne answered Newsday’s questions about her historic achievement .

“It’s a great responsibility .

Something that’s not new to me because being the first female officer in the TTCG, I have been breaking a lot of ground in terms of what I have achieved .

Hopefully, one day it will be commonplace; where every woman will be doing it.” Bourne recalled that her first command was of a Fast Patrol Craft (FPC) “in 2012, I believe.” While the Lt Cdr was the first woman to hold certain posts in the TTCG, she happily noted that the “Coast Guard has incorporated all our females in everything we do. So there’s no restrictions and that’s one of the beautiful things about the Coast Guard; there’s no restriction on women other than themselves.” Asked what message she would like to send to her female TTCG colleagues, Bourne replied, “Never limit yourself .

You’re only limited by your own imagination, you’re only limited by your own mind. Expand your knowledge, never say you can’t.”