Radhika Menon becomes first woman to receive IMO’s Exceptional Bravery award at Sea

Captain Radhika Menon was awarded with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea.
With this, she became the first woman in the world to receive the Award. She was presented with this award for saving lives of seven fishermen from sinking fishing boat in Bay of Bengal.
Besides, B M Das operator and diver of a rescue helicopter at Indian Coast Guard air station Daman was also presented with this award. He was bestowed with this award for rescuing all 14 crew members of the merchant ship Coastal Pride, which capsized and eventually sank.

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.

International Maritime Organisation (IMO): It UN’s specialised agency responsible for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships.
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 - November, 2016