Marking another first for the maritime industry, the Shipping Corporation of India celebrated International Women’s Day by sending one of its large product tankers to sea with an all-female officer team. India said it was the first time a tanker was under the command of an all-woman team. It marked another milestone for female officers a year after Celebrity Cruises operated its flagship with an all-female officer team.

“The Shipping Corporation of India, as a part of its ongoing Diamond Jubilee celebrations and also to commemorate the International Women’s Day on March 8, 2021, achieved another feat when 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 March 6, 2021,” said the Ports, Shipping and Waterways Ministry.

The 73,655 dwt product tanker MT Swarna Krishna has departed the Indian port of Nhava Sheva. Prior to departure of the 748-foot tanker, ceremonies were held to mark the occasion.

USS Theodore Roosevelt,

Out of a crew of 5,000 sailors aboard the supercarrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, only four are entrusted to steer in restricted maneuvering evolutions.

Three of USS Theodore Roosevelt’s four master helmsmen, L to R: Yeoman 3rd Class Adriana Soto, Yeoman 3rd Class Alexandra Miller and Sonar Technician (Surface) 1st Class Allison Coughlin

From the first days of the U.S. Navy, helmsmen have played an essential role, steering the country’s ships as they travel the seas. Typically drawn from the ship’s deck department, their objective is to drive the ship at sea during normal situations. However, during special evolutions and unique scenarios, the master helmsmen take charge.

USS Theodore Roosevelt

“Any time the navigation team thinks it’s going to be a difficult sea state, we’ll come up,” said Sonar Technician (Surface) 1st Class Allison Coughlin, from Ronkonkoma, New York, one of the Theodore Roosevelt’s master helmsman. “When the ship is most likely to crash, that’s when we’re driving.”