Seafarer Day Special: At Sea, Grit Has Always Been the Real Test

Days of the Seafarer Special: At Sea, It Was Never About Gender. It Was About Grit. 

Panaji, June 25: For most, the sea is a place to build their profession. For Madhuri Kaithawas, former deck manager at Virgin Voyages, it became something far more personal, a place to rebuild, to grow and ultimately, to discover a version of herself she did not know existed.

Madhuri joined Virgin Voyages during one of the most difficult periods of her life, seeking not escape, but a reset to life. She wanted a fresh start, a chance to focus on personal and professional growth and to step beyond the comfort of everything familiar. What she found onboard was an unexpected gift of international exposure, a completely new environment and strengths in herself she had never had reason to discover. 

For a woman stepping into an industry historically associated with men, that decision alone took quiet courage. 

What Madhuri did not encounter, however, was the resistance she may have braced for. "Onboard, performance, professionalism and attitude mattered more than whether you were male or female," she reflects. "Responsibilities and expectations were the same for everyone." Her real test was not her gender, but her inexperience, a challenge she met by leaning into consistent work, patience, and a willingness to learn from those around her.

That resilience was tested far beyond the demands of a typical shift. While onboard, Madhuri faced the loss of a loved one mid-contract, yet decided to continue her responsibilities even as she processed personal grief. "Continuing my responsibilities while processing a personal loss was one of the most difficult experiences of my life," she says. "The experience taught me the importance of support systems and how strong we can be during difficult times." It was the bonds she built onboard her ship, colleagues who quickly became like family, that carried her through.

Choosing the sea was driven by sacrifice, for Madhuri. It was never really about a single defining moment, but the quiet accumulation of distance. "There is no such thing as the hardest sacrifice I faced, but being away from loved ones during some of the most important moments in life does get to you sometimes," she admits. "When you spend months onboard, your crew and leaders often become like a family. At times, relationships can be tested by distance, demanding schedules, and personal challenges." It was that family onboard, colleagues who quickly became family, that helped her cope, what distance from home could not have softened.

Her training at the Verna-based Kamaxi Maritime Academy (KMA) laid the groundwork long before she ever boarded a ship. Discipline, safety procedures and a sense of responsibility gave her the confidence to step into an unfamiliar world and make it her own.

To young women considering a similar path, Madhuri’s message is direct: "Believe in yourself and do not let fear hold you back. Success at sea depends on your dedication to grow, professionalism, willingness to learn, and ability to adapt." It is proof that at sea, as on land, courage and capability know no gender.