INSV Tarini has reached Cape Town, South Africa, successfully completing the fourth leg of the Navika Sagar Parikrama II (NSP II) expedition. The vessel and its crew were warmly welcomed by Ruby Jaspreet, Consul General of India in Cape Town, Rear Admiral (JG) Lisa Hendricks, Chief of Staff of the South African Navy Fleet, and Captain Atul Sapahia, Defence Adviser of India at Pretoria. The South African Naval Band also performed in honour of the crew’s arrival, the Ministry of Defence stated on Tuesday.
The NSP II expedition, launched on October 2, 2024, by Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff, from Goa, is being undertaken by two women officers of the Indian Navy—Lieutenant Commander Dilna K and Lieutenant Commander Roopa A—aboard the Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini. The mission aims to cover over 23,400 nautical miles (approximately 43,300 kilometers) within eight months, with the vessel scheduled to return to Goa in May 2025.
So far, the expedition has made three stopovers in Fremantle (Australia), Lyttelton (New Zealand), and Port Stanley, Falklands (UK). The crew has faced extreme challenges, including rough seas, freezing temperatures, and stormy weather conditions. During their journey, they encountered winds exceeding 93 kmph and waves reaching heights of up to seven meters (23 feet).
INSV Tarini will remain at the Royal Cape Yacht Club for two weeks for scheduled maintenance and repairs. During their stay, the crew will engage with the South African Navy at Simon’s Town Naval Base and Gordon’s Bay Naval College, while also participating in community outreach programs.
The indigenously built INSV Tarini, a 56-foot sailing vessel inducted into the Indian Navy in 2018, has been a key part of India’s maritime endeavors. It embodies the ‘Make in India’ and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives, reinforcing the nation’s commitment to self-reliance in defense capabilities.
The vessel’s stopover in Cape Town highlights the growing maritime cooperation between India and South Africa. In recent interactions, the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Talwar participated in the 8th edition of Exercise IBSAMAR in October 2024 in South Africa. Additionally, in January 2025, the Indian Navy’s latest stealth frigate, INS Tushil, made a port call at Durban, engaging with the South African Navy and the Indian community in Kwa-Zulu Natal.
