Kissa Natalia

About

Born on September 26, 1908, in Chișinău, Natalia Kissa spent her childhood and adolescence in Berdiansk, where from the age of 12 she captained sailboats and went out to sea with fishermen. In 1931, she graduated from the navigation school in Rostov-on-Don, debuting as a cabin boy and sailor on the sailing ship "Желанный" (Zhelannyi), then as third and second mate on the steamship "Pioner" of the Azov Maritime Shipping Company. In 1937, as a navigator, she led the country's first all-female sailboat crossing on the Taganrog-Mariupol route, demonstrating exceptional navigation skills in the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea. During World War II, she served as a navigator on the steamship "Anatoli Seroff," participating in the evacuation of troops from Odesa, the Kerch-Feodosia landing operation, and the defense of Sevastopol, where she faced intense aerial attacks and emergency repairs under extreme conditions. After the war, she advanced to the position of second mate on ships such as "Nikolai Ostrovski" and "Zemliak," becoming chief mate in 1947, and between 1953-1959, captain of the steamship "Raicomvod," followed by commanding the ship "Pioner" until 1964, within the Azov Maritime Shipping Company. Her innovations in routine ship repairs without interrupting operations generated significant savings. In 1960, she was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor, the Order of Lenin, and the "Hammer and Sickle" medal, along with other orders such as the Red Banner of Labor and the "Badge of Honor," and was named an Honorary Worker of the Maritime Fleet. A ship was named "Captain Kissa" in her honor. She passed away on September 3, 1990, in Mariupol, where she is buried, leaving behind a legacy of courage and professionalism in the military and civilian maritime field.