For the first time in its nearly 20-year history, a female captain is at the helm of a Silversea ship.

Ultra-luxury Silversea Cruises, which operates a fleet of six ships, has promoted Margrith Ettlin to the position of captain.

A Swiss national with extensive maritime experience in remote regions, including the Arctic and Antarctica, Captain Ettlin assumed control of the 132-guest expedition shipSilver Explorer on August 7th in Reykjavik.

Her first tour of duty as captain will extend into October.

Christian Sauleau, Silversea’s executive vice president of fleet operations, said: “We’re very pleased and proud to extend this promotion to Captain Ettlin. Although we’re not the first cruise company to have a female captain, we hope Captain Ettlin’s achievement will inspire other women to pursue careers at sea.”

Prior to joining Silversea as a staff captain in March 2010, Captain Ettlin worked for Germany’s F Laeisz shipping group.

Her maritime career also includes nearly nine years as a staff captain with the German shipping company Hapag Lloyd.