In News:

The Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini, crewed by women officers Lt CdrDilna K. and Lt Cdr Roopa A., reached Cape Town, South Africa, marking the final international port in the Navika Sagar Parikrama II — a global circumnavigation mission by the Indian Navy.

About INSV Tarini:

• Type: 56-foot indigenously built sailing vessel.
• Commissioned: February 2017.
• Builder:Aquarius Shipyard Ltd., Goa, under the Make in India initiative.
• Features:
  • Equipped with Raymarine navigation suite, satellite communication systems, and emergency steering.
  • Designed to operate in extreme maritime conditions.
• Name Origin: Named after the Tara-Tarini hill shrine in Odisha; ‘Tarini’ in Sanskrit means “boat” and “saviour.”

Navika Sagar Parikrama II:

• Flagged off from Goa: October 2, 2024, by Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff.
• Duration: ~8 months.
• Total distance: Approx. 23,400 nautical miles (43,300 km).
• Route across three oceans, rounding three major capes.
• Ports of call before Cape Town:
  • Fremantle (Australia)
  • Lyttelton (New Zealand)
  • Port Stanley (Falkland Islands, UK)

Challenges Faced:

• Extreme weather: Winds > 50 knots (93 km/h), waves up to 7 metres.
• Rough seas and cold temperatures posed significant navigational challenges.

Significance:

• Demonstrates India’s commitment to women-led maritime expeditions.
• Strengthens India–South Africa naval cooperation:
  • October 2024: INS Talwar participated in Exercise IBSAMAR.
  • January 2025: INS Tushil made a port call at Durban.