The women crew of onboard Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) vessel MT Swarna Krishna created history that a ship is being sailed by all women officers.
· It is the first time in maritime history that a ship is being sailed by only women officers
· T. Swarna Krishna is an Oil Products Tanker that was built in 2010 and is being operated by Shipping Corporation of India (SCI).
· 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.
Background
· In 1956, Ram Dass Katari became the first Indian flag officer, and was appointed as the first Indian Commander of the Fleet.
· In 1958, Vice Admiral Katari assumed the command of the Indian Navy from Carlill as the first Indian Chief of Staff of the Indian Navy.
· Recently two women officers have been selected to join as “Observers” (Airborne Tacticians) in the helicopter stream.
· Lieutenant Kumudini Tyagi and Sub Lieutenant Riti Singh will be the first women officers in the Indian Navy to embark on Navy warships as part of ship’s crew.
· Prior to 1992, women officers were inducted in the Navy only in the medical stream from the Armed Forces Medical Service.
· From July 1992, the Navy started inducting women, initially through a special entry scheme and later through the Short Service Commission, in only select branches of the Navy.
