World's First Tri-Service All-Women Circumnavigation Expedition Flagged Off
In a historic first, an all-women tri-service team from the Indian armed forces has embarked on a sailing expedition to circumnavigate the globe. The mission, named 'Samudra Pradakshina,' was flagged off from Mumbai's Gateway of India. Over the next nine months, ten women officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force will sail nearly 26,000 nautical miles aboard the indigenously built vessel IASV Triveni. The expedition is being hailed as a landmark moment for women's empowerment and military jointness.
Unpacked:
The crew will face treacherous waters, freezing winds, unpredictable storms, and extended periods of isolation. They will cross the Equator twice, round the Great Capes, and sail through dangerous regions like the Southern Ocean and Drake Passage, which are known for extreme weather and rough seas.
The ten officers, drawn from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, underwent three years of rigorous training. This included navigation, communication, scuba diving, medical first aid, and blue water sailing courses, as well as participating in shorter expeditions to build experience at sea.
IASV Triveni is a 50-foot, indigenously built sailing yacht made of fiber-reinforced plastic in Puducherry. It features modern navigation and communication systems and is capable of nearly 60 days of continuous sailing without resupply, highlighting India’s shipbuilding capabilities.
While there have been all-women sailing expeditions, this is India’s first tri-service, all-women circumnavigation mission. The Indian Navy previously ran the all-women Navika Sagar Parikrama in 2017-18, but this is the first involving all three military branches together.