New Delhi, Nov 29 (UNI) Indian Navy Ship Vessel (INSV) Tarini on Wednesday entered Lyttelton port in New Zealand in its maiden voyage to circumnavigate the globe.
Indian High Commissioner to New Zealand Sanjiv Kohli received the crew members of INSV Tarini.
This is the first-ever Indian circumnavigation of the globe by an all-women crew. The vessel is skippered by Lieutenant Commander Vartika Joshi, and the crew comprises Lieutenant Commanders Pratibha Jamwal, P Swathi, and Lieutenants S Vijaya Devi, B Aishwarya and Payal Gupta, the Indian Navy said.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had flagged-off INSV Tarini from Goa on September 10. The vessel has covered 7,800 Nautical miles from Goa, crossing the Equator on September 25 and Cape Leeuwin on November 09.
The indigenously-built INSV Tarini is a 56-foot sailing vessel, which was inducted in the Indian Navy earlier this year, and showcases the ‘Make in India’ initiative on the International forum.
The expedition titled ‘Navika Sagar Parikrama’, is in consonance with the National policy to empower women to attain their full potential. It also aims to showcase ‘Nari Shakti’ on the world platform and help revolutionise societal attitudes and mindset towards women in India by raising visibility of their participation in challenging environs.
The vessel would return to Goa in April 2018, on completion of the voyage.
The expedition is being covered in five legs, with stop-overs at four ports: Fremantle (Australia), Lyttleton (New Zealand), Port Stanley (Falklands), and Cape Town (South Africa). Presently, the vessel has covered two of the five legs of the voyage, with the first port halt at Fremantle (Australia) in October.
The vessel is likely to depart Lyttelton on 12 December 17.
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