Capt Menon becomes 1st Indian woman to get Bravery at Sea award

New Delhi: Five years after becoming the first woman Merchant Navy captain of India, Radhika Menon becomes the first lady in the world to receive the Exceptional Bravery at Sea Award from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) as an honour for rescuing seven fishermen.

In June last year, fishing boat named ‘Durgamma’ had drifted from Andhra Pradesh to Odisha when it was spotted by Captain Menon’s team. The families of fishermen thought they had drowned in the sea and were preparing for their last rites. Meanwhile, they received calls from the team informing them about the fishermen’s miraculous rescue.

“I feel humbled and honoured. Moreover, as a Merchant Navy captain, it was my duty to save souls from danger at the sea and I did the same,” said Menon in an e-mail to IMO.