Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Thursday virtually flagged off ‘Samudra Pradakshina’ — a historic and first Tri-service all-women circumnavigation sailing expedition from the Gateway of India in Mumbai.
In the expedition, 10 women officers from the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force aboard the indigenously-built Indian Army Sailing Vessel (IASV) Triveni will cover over 26,000 nautical miles across the globe for nine months, braving treacherous waters, freezing winds and unpredictable storms. The 50-foot yacht Triveni has been indigenously-built in Puducherry.
The crew, which set sail from Mumbai, will cross the Equator twice, round the three great Capes (Cape Leeuwin, Cape Horn and Cape of Good Hope) and cover all the major oceans, including the Southern Ocean and the Drake Passage. The crew will also make four port calls at Fremantle (Australia), Lyttelton (New Zealand), Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Cape Town (South Africa) and is scheduled to return to Mumbai in May 2026.
In a virtual address from South Block, Singh said the voyage is a “glowing symbol of Nari Shakti, collective strength, unity and jointness of the three Services, Aatmanirbhar Bharat and its military diplomacy and global vision”.
Singh said the expedition was not just a voyage onboard a ship, but also “a spiritual sadhana and a journey of discipline and willpower”.
In the expedition, 10 women officers from the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force aboard the indigenously-built Indian Army Sailing Vessel (IASV) Triveni will cover over 26,000 nautical miles across the globe for nine months. (Image source X/@rajnathsingh)
“During the expedition, our officers may face numerous challenges, but their flame of determination will pierce through the darkness. They will return home safely, showing the world that the valour of Indian women is beyond any limits,” he said.
Singh recalled the historic feat of two women officers of Indian Navy – Lieutenant Commander Dilna K and Lieutenant Commander Roopa A – who circumnavigated the globe aboard Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini in double-handed mode without external assistance and relying solely on wind power in May this year, overcoming several challenges with courage and dedication. He said IASV Triveni will set another global benchmark in maritime adventure and script another golden chapter in India’s maritime journey.
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Describing the Tri-service expedition a shining example of the government’s commitment towards jointness in the three services, Singh said, “We believe that when there is a feeling of jointness among the Armed Forces, even the biggest challenge seems small”.
The 10-member crew are expedition leader Lieutenant Colonel Anuja Varudkar, deputy expedition leader Squadron Leader Shraddha P Raju, along with Major Karamjeet Kaur, Major Omita Dalvi, Captain Prajakta P Nikam, Captain Dauli Butola, Lieutenant Commander Priyanka Gusain, Wing Commander Vibha Singh, Squadron Leader Aruvi Jayadev and Squadron Leader Vaishali Bhandari.
The crew has undergone three years of rigorous training, beginning with smaller offshore expeditions on class B vessels and advancing to IASV Triveni, a class A yacht acquired in October 2024. During the expedition, the crew will also carry out scientific research in collaboration with the National Institute of Oceanography, which includes the study of micro-plastics, documentation of ocean life and raising awareness about marine health.
