Girl power lifter
Crane driver Mia helping to break down barriers
BY PAUL BYRNE and ASHLEY PEMBERTON
IT’S clear that when Mia Allen worked in a chip shop, she had bigger fish to fry...
She has gone from sacks of spuds to much larger loads as she has become one of Britain’s youngest female crane drivers.
Mia, 20, who has followed in the sky high footsteps of her dad, sits 110ft in the air, loading and unloading cargo ships in the docks below.
She is the Humber ports’ first female ship to shore crane operator.
Mia said: “You get great views and you never get bored, it’s very busy.
“I’m fine with heights, it doesn’t bother me. It’s just me in the crane and the deck man on the floor and we work together. I’ve got a great gang around me and we all get on well.”
Mia, the youngest of three siblings, was shown the ropes by her crane operator dad Mark, 52.
She added: “I’ve always been the most like my dad, I was always into football and outgoing. My dad is very outgoing so I’m like him.
“He always said it was his dream for me to work here and for him to train me. He’s very experienced, so I learnt from the best.
“Dad was really delighted when I passed the test.” Mia, who sits in the crane for hours at a time with a glass floor under her feet, added: “It’s something I never imagined I’d end up doing for work, but I’m glad I have because I love it.”
Mia, of Grimsby, Lincs, was a port operative in nearby Immingham last year and is now a tier three crane operator for Associated British Ports.
Her delighted dad said: “I’m extremely proud of Mia.
“She’s a very capable young woman and it was great I was able to train her.
“She’s breaking down the barriers in showing that men and women can work in the ports sector.”
Simon Bird, regional director at Associated British Ports, said: “We’re proud that she has achieved this milestone and look forward to more to come.
“We want to increase the number of women in the ports industry and are committed to promoting diversity and fostering inclusivity.”