inger klein thorhauge's father worked in the faroe island's fishing fleet as an engineer. her first sea going position was at the age of 16 when she worked as a stewardess on cargo ships during her school holidays. thorhauge soon sought to pursue working on ships as a career, but not in the role she had already experienced. after undertaking training in copenhagen for dfds seaways, she had the intention that she would work in the industry for several years before starting a family.