Captain Louise Sara awarded Merchant Navy Medal

Captain Louise Sara is among nine sailors to receive the 2024 Merchant Navy Medal award for Meritorious Service. The recipients of the UK state award – part of a suite of honours that include the MBE and OBE – are announced each year on Merchant Navy Day, 3 September. Captain Louise Sara has received the award for services to welfare, safety, diversity and inclusion .

Captain Louise Sara joined Carnival Corporation in December 2021 as a Fleet Captain and Director of Maritime Standards. She also runs the Women Officer Network (WON) across Carnival Corporation, a forum for women to empower and support each other through collaboration and mentoring.

“I am delighted to have received a nomination for the Merchant Navy Medal this year. I feel humbled and hope that I can use this award as a good tool to continue the work I am involved in supporting diversity equity and inclusion projects within the industry and also the continued support of seafarers’ welfare and safety.”

“As a trustee for the MNWB (Merchant Navy Welfare Board) and a founder of the Carnival Women Officers Network, the nomination is for areas very close to my heart and which I will continue to passionately support and work for continued improvement alongside other industry bodies doing similar.”

Captain Louise started her career at sea in 2000 as a P&O Cruises deck cadet. She remained with P&O Cruises until 2008 when she left the cruise ship industry and started working for P&O Ferries as a second officer while raising her two boys, now aged 14 and 12.

During her time at P&O Ferries she was appointed to sail as master from the start of 2013 becoming the first woman and youngest captain P&O Ferries had appointed at the time on the short sea route between Dover & Calais. She was given command of the Pride of Canterbury in 2018 as Senior Master where she led operational strategy and policy for the vessel.

Captain Louise came ashore in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic and was Fleet Manager – Safety for P&O Ferries. She was involved in several key projects to improve an established safety culture and new methods of benchmarking the safety climate and improving safety reporting and communications. She has also chaired the Vehicle Deck Safety Working Group at the UK Chamber of Shipping which successfully launched the 10 Golden Rules of Vehicle Deck Safety at the end of 2021.

In December 2021, Captain Louise embarked on a new chapter, joining Carnival Corporation. Assuming the dual responsibilities of Fleet Captain and Director of Maritime Standards, she continues to drive progress and innovation within the industry. Her dedication to fostering diversity and empowerment is evident through her establishment of the Women Officer Network within Carnival Corporation and as a trustee for the MNWB (Merchant Navy Welfare Board).

Huge congratulations Captain Louise Sara!