Navy To Receive INSV Tarini On May 23 As It Returns To Indian Shores After 17000NM Voyage

INSV Tarini has returned after completing a 17000-nm trans-ocean intercontinental journey in seven months.

The Indian Navy is preparing to receive its six-member crew of INSV Tarini, including two female officers, at the 'Flag in' ceremony on May 23 at the Indian Naval Watermanship Training Centre (INWTC), INS Mandovi in Goa, news agency ANI reported citing an official on Saturday. INSV Tarini has returned after completing a 17000-nm trans-ocean intercontinental journey in seven months.

In a tweet, the Navy sharing a video said: "Indian Navy is all set to receive its six-member crew of INSV Tarini, returning after a 17000 nm #Transocean inter-continental voyage in 7 months. ‘Flag in’ ceremony on 23 May 23 at the Indian Naval Watermanship Training Centre INS Mandovi, Goa."

The flag will represent the crew's exemplary bravery, courage, and perseverance, particularly the two female officers, Lt Cdr Dilna K and Lt Cdr Roopa A, who participated in the entire expedition.

"The other participants include Capt Atool Sinha, Lt Cdr Ashutosh Sharma, and Lt Aviral Keshav from Goa to Rio-de-Janerio, and Cdr Nikhil Hegde, Cdr MA Zulfikar, Cdr Divya Purohit, and Cdr AC Doke from the return leg," the Ministry of Defence said, ANI reported. 

Lt Cdr Dilna and Lt Cdr Roopa sailed from Goa to Rio de Janeiro via Cape Town and back, covering a total of 188 days on the vessel.

"This is a true manifestation of Nari Shakti, a clarion call from the Indian government to empower women." This special occasion will be graced by Guest of Honour Smriti Irani, Union Minister for Women and Child Development, to applaud the vessel and crew's determination and courage," the ministry added.

The Indian Navy has set out on a mission to circumnavigate the globe in order to raise awareness of ocean sailing.

In 2009-2010, Captain Dilip Donde became the first Indian to circumnavigate the globe. Cdr Abhilash Tomy became the first Asian skipper to complete two circumnavigations.

Cdr Abhilash Tomy (retd) recently completed the gruelling Golden Globe Race 2022, GGR, an eastbound non-stop circumnavigation race starting and finishing in Les Sables d'Olonne France and which prohibits participants from using modern cutting-edge navigational equipment, in second place.

The Navika Sagar Parikrama, led by six women naval officers, increased the popularity of ocean sailing both within the navy and throughout the country. The current sailing expedition of INSV Tarini is part of the Navy's next big project, which is to send a woman around the world solo.

The officers who participated in this expedition were chosen from a pool of volunteers at the Ocean Sailing Node (OSN), which was established on August 24, 2016, with the goal of promoting and undertaking ocean sailing activities and is based at INS Mandovi. This expedition was organised by the Indian Naval Sailing Association (INSA) in New Delhi.