The Calibrator - meet Menae Maeba

AI-generated summary, approved by the editor:
Menae Maeba, a Global Agent at Wilhelmsen Port Services in Tokyo, blends maritime expertise with a passion for digital optimisation and judo. From cadet training aboard the Kaiwo Maru to managing ship operations worldwide, she brings precision and calm focus to her work. Driven by data, she champions automation to streamline processes and reduce errors. A former navigator, Menae now supports vessels from shore while training in judo, where she recently won bronze at the World Masters Games. For her, balance, curiosity, and trust are vital - both in port operations and life. Even her car license plate proudly reads 1861!

When Menae bought a brand-new hybrid car recently, she did something most of us would never think of: she paid a bit more to customise the four-digit licence plate to read 1861.

“Of course it was intentional,” she smiles. “I’m probably the only person in Wilhelmsen with the company’s founding year on their licence plate. Call it brand loyalty on wheels!”

It’s a small but revealing glimpse into how Menae works – with precision, dry humour and a quiet pride in the path she’s chosen. A path that began far from shipping but now moves through data flows, port calls and global time zones.

Where it all started

Menae grew up in Nagoya, Japan's third-largest metropolis known for its thriving port and automotive exports. But despite all those ships coming and going, she had no family connection to the maritime world.

“I really had no special interest in the ocean when I was a child,” she says. “I was quite active – I did swimming and handball – but I was also a little shy."

Along with her elder sister and younger brother she a very typical Japanese upbringing. Her parents were office workers based firmly on land.

Everything changed when she came across a poster for the Toba National College of Maritime Technology during junior high school. “I didn’t have a big dream like being a doctor or anything like that,” she recalls. “But this poster triggered my curiosity.”

Curiosity soon turned into action. She visited the school along with her Mum and Dad, applied and was accepted. At the time, maritime training wasn’t a popular choice among her peers – especially for a young woman. “But there was nothing stopping me,” she says. “Anyone could apply.”

Toba is Japan’s oldest continuously-operated maritime college, located near the ocean in Mie Prefecture. Menae spent four and a half years there, capped off by a year of onboard cadet training on a government training ship, mostly on domestic routes and a memorable international voyage from Tokyo to Honolulu aboard the tall ship Kaiwo Maru.

“I loved it,” she says. “It was such a different environment – no internet for weeks, so we had to create our own entertainment. It gave me a real taste of the seafaring life.”

She went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in maritime technology and science at Kobe University, followed by a stint at sea as a junior third officer on Japanese car carriers. One memory in particular has stayed with her.

“I remember sailing from Kanda-Kitakyushu to Busan in Korea, then to Los Angeles. At night, looking at the stars over the ocean – it makes you feel like a tiny speck in this huge world. It was beautiful.”

Making life better for seafarers – from shore

Although she enjoyed life onboard, Menae also experienced the pressure of ship documentation and compliance. “Being a navigator wasn’t just about keeping watch,” she says. “There was a huge amount of paperwork and expectations from owners, managers, charterers, agents. I started to think, maybe I can better help reduce this workload burden from shore.”

She joined World Marine Co as an Assistant Marine Superintendent in the company's ship management department, but it was Wilhelmsen she really had her eye on.

“It was like my dream company,” she admits. “We had all heard about Wilhelmsen during our studies. One day I was browsing the website and saw an opening for a maritime management trainee programme. I didn’t expect to get it – but I applied anyway.”

On completing the recruitment cascade she was delighted to get the call. The two-year training programme, based out of Kuala Lumpur, gave her hands-on exposure to ship management operations in KL, Oslo and the Philippines. That opportunity turned into a six-year stint in Malaysia.

“In KL, I really grew – not just professionally but personally. It was my first real experience outside Japan. I became more independent, open-minded and globally aware. I also developed a deep understanding of the maritime industry, combined with a genuine interest in data management and process optimisation,” she says.

She worked in multiple roles in Wilhelmsen Ship Management, including as Performance Manager focused on environmental compliance and emissions tracking, and in automation support, using Power BI and programming skills to streamline procurement documentation.

“It really helped me see what was possible with data. I realised how powerful the right tools can be.”

A new challenge in Tokyo

Today, Menae is back in Japan working as a Global Agent for WPS. Her focus is serving Japanese shipping clients whose vessels call at ports around the world.

“I support their vessel operations wherever we have WPS agents or partners in local ports – like arranging crew changes, port logistics or husbandry services,” she explains. “My clients are mostly bulk or car carriers. If a ship is going to Los Angeles and needs a Filipino crew change, for example, I help facilitate communication and coordination between the local agent and the client.”

No two days are the same. “Some days are quiet. Other times it's super busy and I'm juggling urgent requests and 3am phone calls from port agents,” she laughs. “But when I get a message from a vessel master or client saying: ‘thank you’, it makes it all worth it. I feel like I’m contributing to safe, smooth operations, which is very rewarding.”

For Menae, great collaboration means alignment, trust and shared purpose. “When we all move in the same direction, we can really deliver seamless service,” she says. “It’s really satisfying when everything clicks into place.”

Driving efficiency

Menae is particularly passionate about digital optimisation – and not just for the sake of it.

“I started learning Microsoft tools like Sharepoint, Power Automate and Power BI during the pandemic when we were cooped up at home in lockdown,” she says. “I realised just how much they can reduce manual work.”

She shares an example from a previous role: “I used to manually collect documentation from suppliers, store files in SharePoint, send identical emails. It was repetitive. So I created a dashboard and automated the flow: now, when a supplier replies, the attachment is saved automatically.”

Another moment came when she created a visual report to analyse a client’s historical port calls — including location, vessel type and service needs. “It helped us better understand their patterns and make more informed suggestions for future planning,” she explains. “That kind of insight really builds trust.”

If she could encourage more colleagues to adopt one set of tools, it would be this trio. “SharePoint List, Power BI and Power Automate – because they can make repetitive work much easier and reduce human error,” she says. “Plus, they're available to anyone in Wilhelmsen with a Microsoft license – if I’m not mistaken!”

Her motivation is simple. “Even small frustrations in daily work are signals,” she says. “If we pay attention to them, they can lead to big improvements.”

But she also believes humans will remain essential, especially in port operations. “This is still a relationship-based business,” she says. “Technology can provide the tools but trust is the foundation.”

Judo, resilience and a spot on the podium

Menae’s other passion is judo. She trains four to five times a week and recently competed in the World Masters Games 2025 in Taipei, where she won bronze in the F-1 (age 30–34), 52kg category.

“It was a huge experience,” she says. “In the team tournament, I even won my match against a German heavyweight competitor in the bronze round. The team didn’t win overall, but I really enjoyed the fight.”

Competing internationally, she proudly wore a judogi with the Wilhelmsen logo on her chest. “That logo kept me going in the toughest moments on the mat,” she says. “It made me feel like I wasn’t alone.”

And she wasn’t. Colleagues – and close friends – from WPS quietly backed her in the lead-up to the event, offering encouragement and practical support. “I really felt the team spirit, even from afar,” she says. “They believed in me.”

She also took the opportunity to visit Wilhelmsen’s Taipei office while in town. “It was a lovely moment to connect with colleagues face-to-face,” she says.

Judo has taught her more than throws. “It’s not just a sport, it's a way of life,” she says. “Every fall is a chance to rise again stronger and more focused. The discipline and resilience it teaches also shapes how I approach challenges both personal and professional.”

Her favourite move? The Ippon Seoi Nage – a powerful one-arm shoulder throw. “It’s not about brute strength,” she explains. “It’s about timing, balance and full commitment. I’m still mastering it, which keeps me coming back week after week after week.”

Enquiring minds, limitless potential

What drives Menae most of all is a belief that anyone, in any role, can drive change.

“People might underestimate how much opportunity there is in support or operational roles,” she says. “But there’s so much room to explore data, automation and improvement. The possibilities are limitless if you’re curious enough.”

She’s proud of Wilhelmsen’s diversity, both in people and opportunities. “There are so many ways to contribute. I started in Ship Management, now I’m in Port Services. Who knows what’s next?”

She recently took part in a strategy workshop for WPS, which she says left her energised. “I’m excited to exchange ideas and contribute to shaping the future of the company. I believe that by combining our expertise with the right tools, we can unlock new opportunities together.”

It all comes down to showing up. “Even if no one sees the effort, I want to do a good job. That’s what motivates me every day.”

Fun thoughts to wrap it up

If she could instantly master any skill outside work, she says it would be... “Managing my weight more easily! Maybe I’d become a professional meal prepper or nutritionist.”

And if she could switch roles for a week?

“I’d love to spend time with the digital innovation team,” she says. “To see how they bring ideas to life and where to apply new solutions. I’d learn so much I could use in my own role.”

As for unexpected experiences everyone should try at least once?

“Fresh durian fruit,” she exclaims. “I know it’s not for everyone. But the freshest ones in Malaysia – during the season – are incredible. Creamy, sweet and totally unique. Don’t knock it until you try it.”

And when she’s not thinking about vessels, agents or data flows, she’s dreaming about Japan’s winding roads. “Now that I’ve got the new car, I’d love to explore more of Japan having been away for quite a few years,” she says. “There are so many beautiful places I haven’t seen yet – and I really enjoy driving and road trips.”

And a guilty pleasure for which she is completely unapologetic?

“Binge-watching dramas on Netflix or whatever. I know I should go to bed… but once I start a season, I have to finish it in one marathon!”

Menae was interviewed by Roddy Craig.