The crew of INSV Tarini comprising six Indian Navy women officers called on President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 1 June.
The officers recently completed a circumnavigation of the globe, christened ‘Navika Sagar Parikrama’, in 254 days of which 199 were spent on the sea.
Welcoming the officers to Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President said that the expedition they undertook was full of challenges.
He said that their success exemplifies a never-give-up attitude, determination, teamwork, mental and physical fitness and professional excellence.
“Delighted to meet crew of INSV Tarini who accomplished the first-ever Indian circumnavigation of the globe by an all-women crew. India is very proud of this achievement. The crew’s grit and dedication is particularly an inspiration for every girl child,” he wrote on Twitter following the meeting.
Delighted to meet crew of INSV Tarini who accomplished the first-ever Indian circumnavigation of the globe by an all-women crew. India is very proud of this achievement. The crew’s grit and dedication is particularly an inspiration for every girl child #PresidentKovind pic.twitter.com/ps1EBDyDX3
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) June 1, 2018
The all-women crew of INSV Tarini successfully completed the circumnavigation of the globe on a sailboat on 21 May at Goa, from where the expedition was flagged off on 10 September 2017.
Skippered by Lt Commander Joshi, INSV Tarini sailed over 21,600 nautical miles, visited five countries, sailed across four continents, three oceans, passed south of three capes and crossed the equator twice thus fulfilling all the conditions for a sailboat expedition to qualify as circumnavigation.
During its voyage, the vessel visited Australia, New Zealand, the Falkland Islands (UK), South Africa and Mauritius.
Read More: All-women INSV Tarini crew successfully complete circumnavigation of globe
The crew also collated and updated meteorological, ocean and wave data on a regular basis for accurate weather forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), and monitored and reported marine pollution on the high seas.
The vessel was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 18 February 2017.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had met the sailors on 23 May and congratulated them on the success of their mission.
Read More: PM Modi meets INSV Tarini crew, encourages them to pen their voyage
He encouraged them to share and write about their unique experiences during the journey.