For Captain Ritu Kumari, a career in the merchant navy was never on the cards. But what’s written in the stars cannot be defied. She was preparing for IIT-JEE with no ambition of navigating the oceans or commanding the ships. However, an unexpected admission to Mumbai's T.S. Chanakya through an entrance examination rank changed Ritu’s course of life. Coming from Bihar, after spending 16 gruelling years, she is one of the few women to reach the rank of captain in the Indian Merchant Navy. What began as an unfamiliar career choice led her to take command of the MT Jag Pavitra, becoming the first female tanker commander for The Great Eastern Shipping Company.
Became The First Woman to Command A Great Eastern Shipping Tanker
Ritu’s milestone of becoming the first woman to command the Great Eastern Shipping Tanker was not driven by years of passion or ambition of becoming a sailor. At the start, she was only fascinated by the institute’s uniform, facilities, and the prospect of earning well while travelling the globe.
However, being the only female cadet in her batch came with several challenges. Navigating through it all, Ritu’s only focus was how her performance could be improved. "Once onboard, I only concentrated on my performance”, she told the Indian Masterminds, recalling her earlier days at the institute. Rather than allowing a male-dominated field to define her experience, Ritu chose to make the best of the challenges. She learnt the skills and improved her grades. After graduating in 2009, she joined several shipping companies such as Seaarland Shipping, Scorpio Ship Management, Hafnia Tankers, and The Great Eastern Shipping Company.
When A Compass Failure Tested Her Decision-Making Skills
Among several challenges, one that is etched in her memory is when she took a vessel out of port without a marine pilot. Though she was familiar with the route, the vessel's gyro compass failed shortly after leaving the berth, while still inside the breakwater. Ahead was a narrow channel with several vessels at anchor. Since the gyro compass was unavailable, she had to rely only on her observational skills and magnetic compass to navigate the vessel. Such types of technical problems can arise during operations and require quick responses rather than panic. The way she commanded the situation showed her decision-making skills.
“I Have Lived Life On Ship”
Life at sea is different when compared to life on land. Away from home for long periods, demanding work schedules, and working with people from different backgrounds are part of everyday life at sea. Describing her life at sea, Ritu said, "I have not only worked on ship, I have lived life on ship. I have been a happy sailor.” She believes working at sea has exposed her to different cultures and made her more independent. For her performance as a tanker captain, Kumari has earned the Shakti Ratna Award from the Maritime Union of India.
Ritu’s achievement is not only personal, but it has given hope and opportunity to several women to try out for the Merchant Navy. She believes that women entering the profession must focus on clearing the exam and upskilling their skills to reach the ranks. For students, particularly those from rural backgrounds who are less exposed to this profession, she says, “I too belong to a village in Bihar, if I can reach here, so can every one of you irrespective of your background.”