INSV Tarini, with its all-women crew, returning to Goa after circumnavigating the globe

Indian naval sailing vessel Tarini (INSV Tarini), with an all-women crew circumnavigating the globe under the Navika Sagar Parikrama project, will complete its mission and return to Goa Monday evening. 

This will be the first-ever circumnavigation of the globe by an all-women crew of Indian Navy. Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman will be the chief guest at the flagging-in ceremony at INS Mandovi boat pool in Verem, Goa. 

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba will also be present on the occasion. Before starting their voyage, the crew had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and explained the details of their expedition. 

As part of preparations, the crew initially trained for a



year under Captain Dilip Donde, India's first solo circumnavigator. 

The expedition titled Navika Sagar Parikrama, involving a six-member crew, would have covered around 21,000 nautical miles, or the circumference of the earth, at its completion. 

INSV Tarini is being skippered by lieutenant commander Vartika Joshi, and the crew comprises lieutenant commanders Pratibha Jamwal and P. Swathi; and lieutenants S. Vijaya Devi, B. Aishwarya and Payal Gupta. 

The voyage was flagged off on 10th September, 2017. The project would mark a milestone in promoting women empowerment in India and ocean sailing activities by the Indian Navy.