Prelims – Current events of national and international importance.

Why in news?

Recently, INSV Tarini entered Cape Town, South Africa, completing the 4^th leg of the Navika Sagar Parikrama II (NSP) expedition.

• It is global circumnavigation mission of Indian Navy.
• Flagged off in – October 2024.
• Undertaken by – 2 women officers of the Indian Navy.
• Onboard vessel – Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV Tarini).
• Objectives – To cover more than 23,400 nautical miles in 8 months, with a scheduled return to Goa in May 2025.
• To further marine and scientific researches.
• To promote women empowerment in the Indian Armed Forces and is to motivate many young women to join the Services and Indian Navy in particular.
• Coverage – It will unfold in 5 legs with stop overs at 4 ports for replenishment and maintenance, as required.
• The broad contour of voyage will be as follows
  •  Goa to Fremantle, Australia
  •  Fremantle to Lyttleton, New Zealand
  •  Lyttleton to Port Stanley, Falkland (UK)
  • Port Stanley to Cape Town, South Africa
  • Cape Town to Goa
• 4^th stopover in South Africa – It is at Royal Cape Yacht Club in for 2 weeks, for scheduled maintenance and repairs.
• It exhibits the growing relations between India and South Africa and how India stands committed to strengthen its maritime cooperation with the friendly countries in the Indian Ocean Region.

In the recent past, Indian Naval Ship Talwar participated in the 8^th edition of Exercise IBSAMAR in October 2024 in South Africa. In January 2025, the latest stealth frigate of Indian Navy INS Tushil made a port call at Durban and engaged with the South African Navy and the Indian community in Kwa-Zulu Natal.

• Significance – It symbolises India's maritime endeavours, showcasing nation's prominence in global maritime activities and Indian Navy's commitment to excellence and women empowerment.
• It is a significant step in fostering maritime consciousness, embodying the spirit of Sashakt and Saksham India (Strong and Abled India).
• It is 1^st ever circumnavigation of the globe onboard a sailing vessel by Indian women in double handed mode.

The indigenously built INSV Tarini is a 56-foot sailing vessel, which was inducted in the Indian Navy in 2018 and has participated in many such expeditions earlier. The vessel is a true testament of ‘Make in India’ and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative of the Government of India.

Reference

PIB| INSV Tarini in South Africa as a part of NSP 2^nd Edition