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National Maritime Day: India’s First Female Merchant Navy Captain Making Waves
National Maritime Day: India’s First Female Merchant Navy Captain Making Waves
Sputnik India
Captain Radhika Menon shares her inspiring journey of becoming India’s first female Merchant Navy Captain & the first woman to receive International Maritime Organization Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea.
2024-04-05T18:04+0530
2024-04-05T18:04+0530
2024-04-05T18:05+0530
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In the maritime world often dominated by men, breaking societal barriers and paving the way for change requires tremendous strength and determination.Radhika Menon, India's first female merchant navy captain, has done just that.As she continues her career as an active sailing master with Synergy Marine Group, her extraordinary journey through the rough seas of gender discrimination and the relentless pursuit of her dreams has not only shattered glass ceilings but also served as an inspiration for generations to come.Setting Sail Against the TideBorn and raised in Kerala, India, Menon grew up with an unwavering love for the sea. However, her dreams of sailing the vast oceans were met with scepticism, as the male-dominated merchant navy sector seemed unreachable for women.Undeterred, Menon embarked on her journey, determined to challenge society's norms.From gender stereotypes to discriminatory practices, Menon faced countless obstacles on her path towards becoming a captain. However, the relentless support of her family and in-laws kept Menon unfazed by her trials.The biggest turning point came in 1991 when she got her first job as a radio officer at Shipping Corporation of India.During her voyage, she found her calling to become a navigating officer.“After my regular hours of duties as a Radio Officer, I used to extend help to the duty officer with curiosity to know the competencies required for the officer in charge of a navigation watch. I found it very interesting, and during that time, I had the opportunity to read the books written by the late Capt H. Subramanium, and I finally rounded off on what I wanted to do,” Menon said.From passing several exams to facing rejection in job interviews, her path from radio officer to navigator came with many challenges.Her natural leadership abilities, coupled with her extensive knowledge of maritime operations, led her to claim the title of India's first female merchant navy captain in 2012 when she took command of MT Suvarna Swarajya, an oil tanker.In one defining moment of her career, Captain Menon and her team rescued seven fishermen who found themselves trapped on a sinking boat that had capsized due to an engine failure and the anchor breaking during a fierce sea storm in the Bay of Bengal in 2015.Battling treacherous weather conditions, she demonstrated extraordinary courage and determination, earning her the IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea.Navigating through Personal ChallengesThe challenges faced in the merchant navy often revolve around personal life difficulties, especially dealing with being apart during times of severe illness or loss.Juggling work and personal life was a significant challenge for Menon.“I strategically planned important life events, such as getting married and having a child, at opportune times. After childbirth, I received substantial support from both my in-laws and my own family in raising my child," Menon said. "When my son reached around four years old, I transitioned to working on tankers, primarily coastal ones that occasionally docked in Kochi. Before modern communication methods, satellite phones and mobile phones played a crucial role in keeping me connected during those coastal voyages.”There were times when she contemplated leaving the profession to dedicate herself entirely to family and parenting. However, their support and encouragement convinced her otherwise.“Despite the sacrifices of missing out on functions and gatherings, the support of my loved ones made it all worthwhile. I owe a great deal to my family for their constant support throughout my career at sea,” Menon said.Mentoring the Next GenerationMenon's outstanding maritime career has positioned her as a mentor to numerous women worldwide.She became the co-founder of the International Women Seafarers Foundation (IWSF), established in 2017 with the primary goal of promoting women's participation in the maritime industry.IWSF currently boasts a membership of over 1,000 women sailors from eight different countries.Her trailblazing spirit and remarkable achievements have opened doors and opportunities for aspiring female seafarers, encouraging them to believe in their dreams and aspirations.
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national maritime day, india’s first female merchant navy captain, captain radhika menon, first woman to receive the international maritime organization (imo) award for exceptional bravery at sea, breaking societal barriers, synergy marine group, gender discrimination, male-dominated, merchant navy sector, gender stereotypes, discriminatory practices, radio officer, shipping corporation of india ltd, navigating officer, capt h. subramanium, skepticism, mt suvarna swarajya, oil products tanker, bay of bengal, international women seafarers foundation (iwsf)
national maritime day, india’s first female merchant navy captain, captain radhika menon, first woman to receive the international maritime organization (imo) award for exceptional bravery at sea, breaking societal barriers, synergy marine group, gender discrimination, male-dominated, merchant navy sector, gender stereotypes, discriminatory practices, radio officer, shipping corporation of india ltd, navigating officer, capt h. subramanium, skepticism, mt suvarna swarajya, oil products tanker, bay of bengal, international women seafarers foundation (iwsf)
National Maritime Day: India’s First Female Merchant Navy Captain Making Waves
18:04 05.04.2024 (Updated: 18:05 05.04.2024) As India celebrates its National Maritime Day on April 5, Sputnik India has approached Captain Radhika Menon about her inspiring journey to become India’s first female Merchant Navy Captain and the first woman to receive the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea.
In the maritime world often dominated by men, breaking societal barriers and paving the way for change requires tremendous strength and determination.
Radhika Menon, India's first female merchant navy captain, has done just that.
As she continues her career as an active sailing master with Synergy Marine Group, her extraordinary journey through the rough seas of gender discrimination and the relentless pursuit of her dreams has not only shattered glass ceilings but also served as an inspiration for generations to come.
Setting Sail Against the Tide
Born and raised in Kerala, India, Menon grew up with an unwavering love for the sea. However, her dreams of sailing the vast oceans were met with scepticism, as the male-dominated
merchant navy sector seemed unreachable for women.
Undeterred, Menon embarked on her journey, determined to challenge society's norms.
From gender stereotypes to discriminatory practices, Menon faced countless obstacles on her path towards becoming a captain. However, the relentless support of her family and in-laws kept Menon unfazed by her trials.
The biggest turning point came in 1991 when she got her first job as a radio officer at Shipping Corporation of India.
“Carrying out my work on board was much easier than tackling situations due to entering into a male-dominated profession. Even though people accepted my competence, it was very difficult for most of them to accept the fact that a lady could sustain a sea career. However, not all men opposed such empowerment of women. I had the support of men who helped me rise to break bias,” Menon told Sputnik India.
During her voyage, she found her calling to become a navigating officer.
“After my regular hours of duties as a Radio Officer, I used to extend help to the duty officer with curiosity to know the competencies required for the officer in charge of a navigation watch. I found it very interesting, and during that time, I had the opportunity to read the books written by the late Capt H. Subramanium, and I finally rounded off on what I wanted to do,” Menon said.
From passing several exams to facing rejection in job interviews, her path from radio officer to navigator came with many challenges.
“My entire training for conversion was on tankers… Before taking command, I faced a lot of scepticism and discrimination on many counts. Initially, these incidents used to slightly disturb me," Menon said. "But I made up my mind not to focus on the hurdles and potshots thrown at me. I believe that if you understand your problems, you can find your solutions. Patience and hard work will help you go a long way. This made me more resilient.”
Her natural leadership abilities, coupled with her extensive knowledge of maritime operations, led her to claim the title of India's first female merchant navy captain in 2012 when she took command of MT Suvarna Swarajya, an
oil tanker.In one defining moment of her career, Captain Menon and her team
rescued seven fishermen who found themselves trapped on a sinking boat that had capsized due to an engine failure and the anchor breaking during a fierce sea storm in the Bay of Bengal in 2015.
Battling treacherous weather conditions, she demonstrated extraordinary courage and determination, earning her the IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea.
Navigating through Personal Challenges
The challenges faced in the merchant navy often revolve around personal life difficulties, especially dealing with being apart during times of severe illness or loss.
“When my younger brother passed away or when my father passed away, I was at sea. These were incredibly difficult moments because of the nature of the occupation, being away at sea meant being unable to be there during adversity at home. If someone fell sick or faced a crisis at home, it was often impossible to return promptly, especially when stationed in the middle of the ocean,” Menon said.
Juggling work and personal life was a significant challenge for Menon.
“I strategically planned important life events, such as getting married and having a child, at opportune times. After childbirth, I received substantial support from both my in-laws and my own family in raising my child," Menon said. "When my son reached around four years old, I transitioned to working on tankers, primarily coastal ones that occasionally docked in Kochi. Before modern communication methods, satellite phones and mobile phones played a crucial role in keeping me connected during those coastal voyages.”
There were times when she contemplated leaving the profession to dedicate herself entirely to family and parenting. However, their support and encouragement convinced her otherwise.
“Despite the sacrifices of missing out on functions and gatherings, the support of my loved ones made it all worthwhile. I owe a great deal to my family for their constant support throughout my career at sea,” Menon said.
Mentoring the Next Generation
Menon's outstanding maritime career has positioned her as a mentor to numerous women worldwide.
She became the co-founder of the International Women Seafarers Foundation (IWSF), established in 2017 with the primary goal of
promoting women's participation in the maritime industry.
IWSF currently boasts a membership of over 1,000 women sailors from eight different countries.
Her trailblazing spirit and remarkable achievements have opened doors and opportunities for aspiring female seafarers, encouraging them to believe in their dreams and aspirations.
