Captain Radhika Menon: First woman to receive Exceptional Bravery award at Sea

Captain Radhika Menon became the first woman in the world to receive the Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea for the year 2016 from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
She will be bestowed with this award for saving the lives of seven fishermen, whose hopes of survival were all over.
The award will be presented to her at the ceremony set to take place at IMO Headquarters in London on 21 November 2016. She was chosen by 116th session of IMO Council meeting held in London.
Captain Menon had displayed great determination and courage in leading the difficult rescue operation in the Bay of Bengal in June 2015. She had rescued all seven fishermen from the fishing boat Durgamma, which was adrift following engine failure and loss of anchor in severe weather. For this bravery she was nominated for the award by the Government of India.

About Radhika Menon

• She had joined the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) as a trainee radio officer in 1991. She was the first woman to do so and is native of Kodungallur in Kerala.
• Later on she ascended the hierarchy by clearing exams for the posts of second mate and chief mate and did the sea time required to appear for the master’s certificate in 2010.
• In 2011, Radhika Menon had made history by becaming the first woman to become captain of Indian Merchant Navy. In 2012, she took charge of MT Suvarna Swarajya.

Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea: It is an annual Award established by IMO. It seeks to provide international recognition for those who perform acts of exceptional bravery at the risk of losing their own life.

Month: Current Affairs - July, 2016