Last Father's Day was pretty special for Kailee Moss, her brother Brad Steen and dad Brendan Steen.
In her role as vessel scheduler at Port of Newcastle, Kailee scheduled the entry for a vessel that port officer Brendan took the pilot to, before tugboat driver Brad towed it in to berth.
"Dad drove past my brother in his little boat and they were tooting the horns at each other," Kailee said.
"That was pretty nice, just to feel like we sort of all connected that way even though we were all at work on a Sunday."
The family certainly has deep roots in the maritime industry.
Brad is a fifth generation seafarer who currently works for Svitzer driving tugboats, while Brendan works for Port Authority NSW. He started at what was then the Maritime Services Board in 1989, and has held a wide variety of port roles in the past 32 years.
Kailee was the latest family member to join the family club.
"I've always loved the industry because my whole family's been involved in it, but I can't drive a boat," she said with a laugh.
"I never thought I'd be able to play a part in it at all but I started working for the ambulance service scheduling ambulances, then I saw a job advertised for Svitzer the tug company. I thought if I can schedule ambulances I can give tugs a crack.
"So I applied for it and got it. I worked with my brother there for three years then came over to Port of Newcastle in 2017.
"I love it. I didn't think I'd get this opportunity to play a part in a bit of a family legacy that we have."
Kailee said her dad was also proud to have two children working in the industry he's so passionate about.
"He loves it," she said. "Even though we sort of all do our own thing, we're all still kind of together."
And Kailee doesn't expect she'll be the last generation of her family to carry the maritime flag.
"My little boy Madden he's just obsessed with ships," she said.
"I wouldn't go toe to toe with him about Titanic facts. I think he asked me once how many screws were in it and I was like 'Madden, no one is going to beat you on those facts mate'.
"He collects them and he loves all the Signa shipwreck and the Pasha Bulker and things like that so anytime he can pick our brains about any of those things he loves it.
"Or if a cruise ship comes in or something he's all over it. He gets super jealous when Uncle Brad gets to be at the bow of it towing it in, sending him all the photos."
The family plan to spend Sunday catching up virtually over lunch and celebrating a delayed Father's Day in person when lockdown ends.
