Radhika Menon is the first woman ever to get the award for bravery at sea

Radhika Menon, the first Indian woman to earn the position of  captain in the Indian Merchant Navy, now has another feather in her cap. She has become the first woman in the world to receive the Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea from the International Maritime Organisation for saving the lives of seven fishermen who had almost lost their hopes of survival.

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When fishing  boat 'Durgamma' had an engine failure in the middle of the sea, and had drifted from Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh all the way to Gopalpur in Odisha, Menon's team came to their rescue in the Bay of Bengal in June last year. The families of the fishermen had almost given up hope, but it was her sheer determination and courage in leading the way into stormy waves of more than 25 feet, winds of more than 60 knots and heavy rain, that resulted in a successful rescue operation. Captain Menon was nominated by the Government of India.

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Hailing from Kodungallur, Kerala, Captain Radhika Menon, is Master of the oil products tanker ‘Sampurna Swarajya’ of Shipping Corporation of India. "I am humbled, honoured and grateful," Menon said in an email. "It is a maritime obligation to save souls in distress at sea and, as a seafarer and master in command of my ship, I just did my duty," as reported by TOI.

We doff our hat at her bravery!

Feature Image Credit: seanews.com