After sailing across globe for over eight months, Indian Navy’s all-women team is returning home today. The team will create history as it becomes first-ever voyage by an all-women crew to circumnavigate the globe.

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The six crew of the Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini started their maiden voyage on September 10 from Goa. After sailing for 253 days, the vessel is scheduled to arrive on Monday. The journey had five halts with the first stop at Fremantle in Australia, the second at Lyttelton in New Zealand, third at Port Stanley in Falkland Islands, the fourth stop at Cape Town (South Africa) and fifth at Mauritius. 

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who flagged-off INSV Tarini from Goa on September 10, will receive them in Panaji on Monday.

The vessel is captained by Lieutenant Commander Vartika Joshi, with her crew comprising Lieutenant Commanders Pratibha Jamwal and P Swathi, and Lieutenants S Vijaya Devi, B Aishwarya and Payal  Gupta.

The indigenously-built INSV Tarini is a 56-foot sailing vessel, which was inducted in the Indian Navy earlier this year, and showcases the 'Make in India' initiative on the international forum.

The expedition, titled 'Navika Sagar Parikrama', was flagged off by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as part of the national initiative to empower women to attain their full potential. It also aims to showcase "Nari Shakti" on the world platform and help revolutionise societal attitudes and mindset towards women in India, by raising visibility of their participation in challenging environs.

The crew has also been collating and updating meteorological, ocean and wave data on a regular basis for accurate weather forecast by India Meteorological Department, as also monitoring marine pollution on the high seas.They would interact extensively with the local populace, especially children, during the port halt to promote Ocean sailing and the spirit of adventure.