Radhika Menon (naval officer)

Radhika Menon is an Indian female merchant navy officer currently serving as the captain of the Indian Merchant Navy.[1] She is also the first female captain of the Indian Merchant Navy who also leads the oil products tanker Suvarna Swarajya. In 2016, Radhika also became the first woman to receive the IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea.[2] She is well known for her rescue operation which she conducted successfully in June 2015 saving seven fishermen who were trapped for a week in a boat.[3] she is in the adivosary board of delhi based maritime magazine name Sea and Coast.[4]

Not to be confused with Radhika Menon.

Radhika Menon
Born
Kodungallur, Kerala
Alma materAll India Marine College, Kochi
Occupationnaval officer
Known forFirst female captain of the Indian Merchant Navy

Early life

She was born and raised in Kodungallur of Kerala. She completed a radio course at the All India Marine College in Kochi and initially began her career as a radio officer at the Shipping Corporation of India.[5]

Career

After a brief stint with Shipping Corporation of India, she became a prominent cadre of the Indian Navy. In 2012, she was appointed as the captain of the Indian Merchant Navy and became the first ever female captain of the Indian Merchant Navy. In the same year, she took charge as the leader of oil tanker Suvarna Swarajya which weighs about 21, 827 tonne.[6]

She was awarded the International Maritime Organization Award in November 2016 for her successful courageous rescue operation which she led from the front in June 2015 rescuing seven fishermen who were trapped at the Bay of Bengal in a sinking boat which capsized due to engine failure and breakdown of the boat's anchor as a result of a sea storm.[7][8][9] The Government of India nominated her for the relevant award recognising her national duty and also notably became the first woman to receive the IMO Bravery award.[10]

Radhika also co-founded the International Women Seafarer's Foundation (IWSF) on 3 November 2017 along with fellow naval officers Suneeti Bala and Sharvani Mishra in Mumbai with the objective of motivating young women seafarers.[11][12][13]

On 29 September 2019, she was honored by the Indian government as she featured in Bharat Ki Laxmi hashtag campaign which was introduced by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to celebrate the achievements of the Indian women as a part of the Mann Ki Baat series.[14]

See also

References
  1. "Raise voice if faced with restrictions: Country's first woman merchant navy officer". The Times of India. 5 March 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  2. "Women in shipping – Radhika Menon, radio officer, Shipping Corporation of India – IHS Markit Safety at Sea". safetyatsea.net. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  3. "Indian woman wins sea bravery award". 22 November 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  4. "ADVISORY BOARD". www.seaandcoast.in.
  5. "Meet Radhika Menon - India's First Female Merchant Navy Captain To Win A Top Bravery Award". indiatimes.com. 23 November 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  6. "Know Captain Radhika Menon, the First Woman in the World to Win Bravery at Sea Award". The Better India. 11 July 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  7. "At the helm: Captain Radhika Menon". new.abb.com. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  8. "Bravery award for India's first female Merchant Navy captain". @businessline. Press Trust of India. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  9. Silva, Pramod De. "Women to the fore in seafaring". Daily News. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  10. "Indian Captain Radhika Menon Is First Woman To Get Bravery At Sea Award". NDTV.com. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  11. "International Women Seafarer's Foundation established in Mumbai". www.marineinsight.com. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  12. "IMO pushes for gender equality with #IAmOnBoard Day of the Seafarer theme". Seatrade Maritime - Shipping, Maritime and Offshore Marine News. 25 June 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  13. "International Women Seafarers Foundation launched in Mumbai". The Indian Express. 4 November 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  14. World, Republic. "India's first woman captain, Radhika Menon honoured by Govt of India". Republic World. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
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