Radhika Menon, who became the first woman in the world to receive the Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea from the International Maritime Organsiation (IMO) on July 9.
- Radhika Menon, a resident of Kerala, rescued seven fishermen from the Bay of Bengal last June when the fishing boat ‘Durgamma’ drifted from Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh to Gopalpur in Odisha.
- The boat had lost its anchor in the adverse sea weather, which had also washed away the food supplies.The fishermen were surviving on the ice from the cold storage and had lost hope of making it of the ordeal alive.The fishermen’s families had believed them to be lost at sea and were preparing for their last rites when they received calls about their miraculous rescue.
- The Awards ceremony is expected to take place at IMO Headquarters on November 21 at the end of the first day of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC).
Radhika Menon:
Menon was at the helm of oil tanker ‘Sampurna Swarajya’ of Shipping Corporation of India.
This is not the first time Radhika has proved her mettle. Five years ago, she became the first woman to captain a ship of the Indian Merchant Navy.
Bravery Award at Sea:
This annual Award was established by IMO to provide international recognition for those who, at the risk of losing their own life, perform acts of exceptional bravery, displaying outstanding courage in attempting to save life at sea or in attempting to prevent or mitigate damage to the marine environment.
About IMO:
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is the United Nations specialised agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships.