Navika Sagar Parikrama : Indian Navy’s all women team to circumnavigate globe

Under project Navika Sagar Parikrama which will commence in September 2017, a team of women officers of the Indian Navy would circumnavigate the globe on an Indian-built sail boat INSV Tarini. This is the first ever Indian circumnavigation of the globe by an all-women crew.

About Navika Sagar Parikrama:

Crew:

• The all-women crew includes Lt Cdr Vartika Joshi, Lt Cdr Pratibha Jamwal, Lt Cdr Swathi P, Lt Aishwarya Boddapati, Lt Sh Vijaya Devi and Lt Payal Gupta.
• Crew have trained extensively for the forthcoming voyage. They have sailed approximately 20,000 Nautical Miles (Nm) onboard INSV Mhadei and Tarini as part of training, which includes two expeditions to Mauritius (in 2016 and 2017) and a voyage from Goa to Cape Town in Dec 16.

Sailing Vessel – INSV Tarini:

• INSV Tarini, a 55 foot sailing vessel has been built by M/s Aquarius Shipyard Pvt Ltd, Goa.
• Tarini was inducted into the Indian Navy on February 18, 2017.
• The vessel has sailed approximately 8,000 Nm till date.
• Navika Sagar Parikrama would be covered in five legs with stop-overs at four ports for replenishment of ration and repairs as necessary.

Objectives:

• In consonance with the National policy to empower women to attain their full potential, the expedition aims to showcase ‘Nari Shakti’ on the world platform.
• Sailing encourages the use of environment friendly non-conventional renewable energy resources which affects the life of women. The expedition thereby aims at harnessing the energy to optimise the livelihood of the women onboard.
• The voyage also aims to show case the ‘Make in India’ initiative by sailing onboard the indigenously built INSV Tarini.
• The crew would also collate and update Meteorological/ Ocean/ Wave data on a daily basis for subsequent analysis by research and development organisations.
• The crew would monitor and report marine pollution on the high seas.
• Since the expedition aims to promote Ocean Sailing and the spirit of adventure, the crew would interact extensively with the local Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) at the various port halts.