insv-tarini-reaches-cape-town-in-historic-voyage

INSV Tarini has successfully arrived in Cape Town, South Africa, completing the fourth leg of the Navika Sagar Parikrama-II (NSP-II) expedition.

 

The vessel and its crew were warmly welcomed by Ms Ruby Jaspreet, Consul General of India in Cape Town, Rear Admiral (JG) Lisa Hendricks, Chief of Staff of the South African Navy Fleet, and Captain Atul Sapahia, Defence Adviser of India at Pretoria. The South African Naval Band also performed in honour of the vessel’s arrival.

 

 

The expedition was flagged off from Goa on 2 October 2024 by Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff. It is being undertaken by two women officers of the Indian Navy, Lieutenant Commander Dilna K and Lieutenant Commander Roopa A, aboard the Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini.

 

The mission aims to cover over 23,400 nautical miles (approximately 43,300 kilometres) in eight months, with a planned return to Goa in May 2025. So far, the expedition has had three stopovers at Fremantle (Australia), Lyttelton (New Zealand), and Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands (UK).

 

INSV Tarini will be docked at the Royal Cape Yacht Club for two weeks to undergo scheduled maintenance and repairs. During this period, the crew will engage with the South African Navy at Simon’s Town Naval Base and Gordon’s Bay Naval College.

 

 

They will also participate in community outreach activities.

The crew has faced challenging conditions during their journey, including rough seas, freezing temperatures, and stormy weather.

 

Winds have exceeded 50 knots (93 kmph), and waves have reached heights of up to seven metres (23 feet), making the circumnavigation particularly demanding.

 

INSV Tarini, a 56-foot indigenously built sailing vessel, was inducted into the Indian Navy in 2018 and has participated in several similar expeditions. The vessel symbolises India’s ‘Make in India’ and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives, showcasing the nation’s growing maritime capabilities.

 

The Navika Sagar Parikrama-II expedition highlights the role of women in the Indian Armed Forces and is expected to inspire young women to pursue careers in the Indian Navy. Additionally, the mission contributes to marine and scientific research, furthering India’s commitment to oceanic exploration.

 

INSV Tarini’s stopover in Cape Town is a testament to the strengthening maritime ties between India and South Africa. India remains committed to enhancing cooperation with friendly nations in the Indian Ocean Region.

 

 

In recent months, India’s engagement with South Africa has been evident through naval collaborations, including the participation of INS Talwar in the eighth edition of Exercise IBSAMAR in October 2024.

 

Additionally, in January 2025, the stealth frigate INS Tushil made a port call at Durban, engaging with the South African Navy and the Indian community in KwaZulu-Natal. Such interactions foster mutual learning and cooperation in ensuring maritime security.

 

INSV Tarini is expected to depart from Cape Town on 15 April 2025 to continue its global circumnavigation.