In a landmark initiative showcasing Nari Shakti and tri-services synergy, the Indian Armed Forces are set to launch their first-ever all-women sailing team on a circumnavigation mission. The 10-member crew will set sail from Mumbai on September 11 aboard the indigenously built 50-foot Indian Army Sailing Vessel (IASV) Triveni, covering 21,600 nautical miles.
Team Composition and Training
The team comprises five Army officers, one Naval officer, and four Air Force officers. Over the past two and a half years, they have undergone intensive training, including a 10,000-nautical-mile expedition to Seychelles. Training covered navigation, communication, scuba diving, medical first aid, fatigue management, and weather analysis.
Squadron Leader Shraddha Raju, with 11 years of experience as a technical officer on Sukhoi-30 aircraft, said, “We will be the forerunners of IASV Triveni and showcase the power of Indian tri-Services.”
Expedition leader Lieutenant Colonel Anuja Varudkar, with 21 years of service, called the mission a milestone: “This expedition is about synergy. Each of us brings distinct skill sets to fulfil the mission.”
Route and Challenges
The expedition will span eight to nine months, crossing the equator twice and navigating the three Great Capes — Cape Leeuwin (Australia), Cape Horn (South America), and the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa). The crew will also dock at four international ports: Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, and South Africa.
Navy spokesperson Captain Mehul Karnik highlighted the toughest stretch: “The most challenging part will be Drake Passage, notorious for rough seas and strong currents.”
Symbol of Atmanirbhar Bharat
Built indigenously in Puducherry, Triveni is equipped with modern navigation and communication systems. It has already logged 10,000 nautical miles during training and now embodies India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.
Naval Constructor Lt. Commander Priyanka Gusain added that the mission will also serve a diplomatic purpose: “We will be meeting the diaspora and, in a way, strengthening India’s relations abroad.”
The crew is expected to return to Mumbai by May 2026, marking a historic chapter in India’s maritime journey.
