Captain Ritu Kumari becomes first woman to command Great Eastern tanker
The maritime professional reached the rank of captain after 16 years at sea following an unexpected admission to training.
Captain Ritu Kumari has become the first woman officer in the history of The Great Eastern Shipping Company to command one of its vessels, according to a Times of India report. Kumari, who originally prepared for the IIT-JEE entrance examination, secured admission to Mumbai's T.S. Chanakya through her entrance rank.
After graduating in 2009 in nautical science, Kumari worked for several companies, including Seaarland Shipping, Scorpio Ship Management, and Hafnia Tankers. She is among the few women to reach the rank of captain in the Indian Merchant Navy and is the first woman captain from the T.S. Chanakya alumni.
In an interview with Indian Masterminds, Kumari said she was initially unaware that her course was for a career at sea. She noted that she was the only female cadet in her batch and faced limited infrastructure for women at the time.
Kumari described demanding assignments, such as a nine-month stint on a vessel with tight schedules and a 15-day period with Scorpio Shipping Company involving minimal rest. She also recalled navigating a vessel using only visual observations and a magnetic compass after a gyro compass failure.
She told Indian Masterminds that these responsibilities gave her the confidence that she can do anything in her life. Kumari has received the Shakti Ratna Award from the Maritime Union of India for her performance as a tanker captain.