The Shipping Corporation of India Ltd., as a part of its ongoing Diamond Jubilee celebrations and also to commemorate the International Women’s Day on 8^th March, 2021 achieved another feat when 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 6^th March 2021.

 

This is the first time in the world Maritime History that a ship is being sailed by all women officers.

 

Shri Mansukh Mandaviya acknowledged the contribution and sacrifice of the women seafarers who acted as the Indian ambassadors to the global maritime community and had made the nation proud. Smt. H.K. Joshi, CMD, SCI, spoke of the unabated and relentless pursuit of SCI to realize the ‘paradigm shift’ in the maritime sector which has recognized and honoured the ‘empowered womanhood’ in our seafaring women who have dared, endeavoured and sacrificed to achieve it.  Dr. Sanjeev Ranjan, Secretary (Shipping), Shri Sanjay Sethi, Chairman, JNPT, Shri Rajiv Jalota, Chairman, MbPT and Shri Amitabh Kumar, DG Shipping attended the ceremony virtually and commended the efforts of the women seafarers. 

The move demonstrated the gradual shift in the perception of seafaring as a male-oriented profession and the principles of Diversity & Inclusion that SCI upholds.  SCI has been a pioneer in employing women seafarers onboard its vessels and 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.  SCI had in the last year been recognized by the NUSI as the Shipping Company employing the highest number of women seafarers and had also been conferred with several awards as an acknowledgement for efforts in promoting Diversity & Equality in the Maritime Sector.  

Being in consonance with the theme for International Women’s Day, 8 March 2021 (IWD 2021), viz. “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world”, as well as the IMO theme for the year 2019 – “Empowering women in the Maritime Community”, 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.

 

 

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