In an exciting event for the Defence Ministry, a team of six all-women Indian Navy officers embarked on a journey across the globe on their sailboat INSV Tarini.
They sailed off on Sunday from Goa and will return next year in March. In eight months, they hope to cover a distance of 21,600 nautical miles.
The mission, called ‘Navika Sagar Parikrama’, is led by Lieutenant Commander Vartika Joshi, and was flagged off by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Former Defence Minister and present Goa Chief minister Manohar Parrikar and Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lamba were also present when the crew set sail.
During their journey, the crew will make four stops in different countries – Fremantle in Australia, Lyttleton in New Zealand, Port Stanley in the Falklands, and Cape Town in South Africa. The officers will sail through three oceans – Indian, Pacific and Atlantic.
This is the first time that an all-women Indian crew is attempting to circumnavigate the globe.
“This is a historic day for India. A historic day, which will be marked in navigation history and globally,” Nirmala Sitharaman said during the event, reports The Hindu.
The publication also reported that the expedition would encourage the use of environment-friendly non-conventional renewable energy resources that affect the lives of women. The crew will also update the meteorological /ocean/wave data regularly. Marine pollution on the high seas will also be monitored by them.
The Defence Minister also added that the sea does not discriminate between genders and that it has always been gender-neutral. She emphasised that gender had no role to play in sailing.
“But to boost morale in the country and for more women to take part in adventures like sailing, I feel it is great that an all-woman team has been formed,” The Hindu quoted her as saying.
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