In light of the International Women’s Day for 2021 on 8 March, Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) announced that the “MT Swarna Krishna” vessel, which is fully managed & commanded by all women officers, set sail.
In fact, the all-women crew of Swarna Krishna created history, since this is the first time in the world maritime history that a ship is being sailed by all women officers.
What is more, Shri Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, virtually flagged off the “All Women Officers’ Sailing” on MT Swarna Krishna, SCI’s product carrier from JNPT Liquid Berth Jetty on 6th March 2021.
For the record, Secretary Shipping Sanjeev Ranjan, Chairman JNPT Sanjay Sethi, Chairman, Mumbai Port Trust, Rajiv Jalota, and DG Shipping Amitabh Kumar attended the ceremony virtually and commended the efforts of the women seafarers.
As explained, this move demonstrated the gradual shift in the perception of seafaring as a male-oriented profession and the principles of Diversity & Inclusion that SCI upholds.
To remind, SCI has been a pioneer in employing women seafarers onboard its vessels, while has implemented various initiatives including age relaxations and fee concessions to aspiring female cadets through its Maritime Training Institute to promote their integration into the maritime sector.
Concluding, the All Women Officers’ Sailing is an attempt to acknowledge the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping an equal future and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, while celebrating the many accomplishments by the women in breaking down the stereotypes in this erstwhile male dominated field.
