SHIP chandling industry is arguably one of the more unknown sides of shipping. It is the provision of goods, equipment and services to ships.Ship chandlery includes the provision of food and other supplies, fuels, lubricants, spare parts, and safety equipment. While unfamiliar to many, it is considered pivotal in the efficient operation of ships.Ship chandling plays a crucial role in keeping the maritime supply chain running smoothly.Given the enormity and heft of ship parts and the strength that requires their movement from warehouse to vessels, it is no secret that the industry is a man's world. It thrives on the brawn and blunt of men.But then, there is Kristine Herrera, president of Manila EGC Marine Supply Inc. Her years of experience, assertiveness and unyielding resolve match that of the men in the industry.'Some male clients have looked at me from head to toe, questioning why a young woman has this position. Another told me that they needed a partner in the Philippines.He emphasized that he needed someone 'strong.' I will always tell them, 'Try me and my company,' Herrera said.Two years later, the men who used to doubt her capabilities remain to be one of the most loyal clients of Manila EGC Marine Supply.The company is a three-year-old Philippine branch of EGC Marine Supply, a ship chandling firm based in Qingdao, China.'Every day is a challenge to us ship chandlers. It is also exciting. Orders, repairs and deliveries from clients are always tagged as 'urgent.' My edge in this business is my experience as a purchasing officer for foreign shipping companies. I know what customers want because I used to be the customer,' she continued.The makings of a strong womanHerrera is a native of Lucena, Quezon. She finished her Bachelor of Industrial Technology, majoring in Computer Engineering Technology, at the Southern Luzon Polytechnic College in 2005. She then worked for the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) as a consular assistant.After three years, Herrera moved into the maritime industry as a documentation assistant for a Japanese manning company based in Manila. It was in this industry that she started her work as a purchasing officer.The young woman found herself traveling to Melbourne, Australia almost a decade later to find new opportunities, only to realize that her options were limited to studying and marrying an Australian.'I wanted my freedom, so I decided to return to Manila. I took a job as a purchasing officer for a British management company for the next two years. It was then that my Chinese friend from EGC Marine Supply thought of branching out to the Philippines, knowing and proving that it is a good market,' Herrera recalled.And so in 2021, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown when most businesses were closing shop, Manila EGC Marine Supply was born.Intense as she is kind, what Herrera lacked in burliness, she made up in boldness. The woman handles her business with such intensity that others misunderstand her character.'They thought I was surly and snob, but I simply fight for what I know is right. Behind all these, however, is a kind-hearted person who is fair and positive,' Herrera said.Outside of work, Herrera likes cooking different cuisines, often with the meticulousness of taste and plating of a true chef. She also likes to discover new flavors by mixing cocktails and enjoys freedom of movement through Latin dances.Beyond the art of cooking and dancing, Herrera builds her strength at the boxing gym.'The modern world allows women to do what men do. Boxing, weightlifting, piloting, soldiering, seafaring. You just have to want it and work hard for it. If you keep on trying, not giving up, you will succeed in any field and industry you dream of becoming part of. Failing is just a part of the challenge!' she said.
