Nari Shakti sets sail: 10 women officers from 3 forces on historic voyage around the world

In a landmark moment, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday virtually flagged off ‘Samudra Pradakshina’, the first-ever tri-service all-women sailing expedition to circumnavigate the globe.

Addressed the flag-off ceremony of the first ever Tri-service all-women circumnavigation sailing expedition, from Mumbai.

Ten women officers sailing onboard indigenous Indian Army Sailing Vessel Triveni over the next 9 months covering the distance of nearly 26,000 nautical… pic.twitter.com/PsiimHkyky

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 11, 2025

The event took place at the Gateway of India in Mumbai, where the 10-member crew officially set sail aboard the Indian Army Sailing Vessel (IASV) Triveni.

The expedition features 10 women officers from the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, showcasing the growing role of women in India’s armed forces.

Over the next nine months, the team will cover more than 26,000 nautical miles, navigating through some of the world’s most challenging maritime zones, including the Southern Ocean and the Drake Passage.

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The crew will cross the Equator twice, and sail past the three great Capes — Cape Leeuwin (Australia), Cape Horn (Chile), and the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa).

The 50-foot yacht Triveni, built indigenously in Puducherry, will also make four port calls in Fremantle (Australia), Lyttelton (New Zealand), Buenos Aires (Argentina), and Cape Town (South Africa) before returning to Mumbai in May 2026.

In a virtual address from South Block, Singh described the mission as a “glowing symbol of Nari Shakti”, and a testament to the unity of the armed forces, Aatmanirbhar Bharat, and India’s global vision.

He also referred to the journey as “a spiritual sadhana and a test of discipline and willpower”.

The Samudra Pradakshina expedition is not only a first-of-its-kind military endeavour but also a bold statement of India’s commitment to gender inclusion, indigenous capability, and global military diplomacy.

With inputs from agencies