Indian Navy's first all-women ship leaves Australia, heads to NZ

The Indian Navy’s first all-women naval vessel had left Australian waters and is heading towards New Zealand on its way to the historic mission of circumnavigating the globe on an Indian built naval vessel.

INSV Tarini is the part of Navika Sagar Parikrama project where a team of women officers of the Indian Navy would circumnavigate the globe on an Indian built naval vessel.

This historic circumnavigation attempt being led by Lt Commander Vartika Joshi, and the crew comprises Lt Commanders Pratibha Jamwal and P. Swathi, and Lieutenants S Vijaya Devi, B Aishwarya and Payal Gupta.

“Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini left Australia's Fremantle on Sunday morning [November 5] for its onward journey to New Zealand's Lyttleton,” an Indian defence statement said.

Lyttelton is a port town on the north shore of Lyttelton Harbour, at the north-western end of Banks Peninsula, close to Christchurch, and considered as the gateway to Canterbury.

Earlier, INSV Tarini had arrived at Fremantle on October 23, after completion of the first leg of its maiden voyage to circumnavigate the globe.

The High Commission of India, Wellington is planning an official reception of the ship once it reaches the shores of New Zealand.

“We are still working out a program, but its essential components will be community interaction, interaction with students, women groups, local dignitaries and New Zealand Navy,” the High Commissioner of India, Sanjiv Kohli told The Indian Weekender.

Mr Kohli expressed excitement and a sense of pride in the composition of the crew and the nature of the mission.

“I will just say at this moment that it is a matter of great pride for our community here that these remarkable women on a historic mission will be spending some time in New Zealand.

“I will urge everyone, particularly those in and around Christchurch to extend a warm welcome to them on arrival and be part of their engagements here.             

“I will also like our community to extend their best wishes to the crew as they have started their journey for Christchurch,” Mr Kohli further told The Indian Weekender.

Historic reception in Australia

Earlier, the crew of INSV Tarini was officially welcomed to Western Australia by its Tourism, Defence Issues and Citizenship and Multicultural Interests Minister Paul Papalia and Women's Interests Minister Simone McGurk on November 1.

 Western Australia (WA) Ministers were accompanied by two Indian-origin members of WA Parliament.

Royal Australian Navy chief, Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, also visited the vessel on November 1 to welcome the crew.

He also handed over a personal message from Australian Minister for Defence Marise Payne for the crew.

The crew had several engagements during its stay in Fremantle, including call-on meetings with Western Australia Governor Kerry Sanderson and Freemantle Deputy Mayor Ingrid Waltham.

WA Legislative Council President Kate Doust also hosted the crew at WA Parliament for interaction with female MPs from all major parties.

The INSV Tarini crew had an opportunity to interact with a wide range of stakeholders during the welcome reception hosted by the Indian Consulate on October 28, which was attended by about 100 distinguished guests, including members of WA Parliament, state officials, businessmen, academicians, consular corps, leaders from Indian community and media persons.

The crew of INSV Tarini also had an opportunity to interact with strategic thinkers and academia during a presentation and reception event hosted by Perth US-Asia Centre, a leading think tank focusing on geopolitical issues based at the University of Western Australia, on October 31. More than 200 students attended a presentation and interactive session with the crew at Perth Modern School on the same day.

The crew also visited the scientific facilities at the Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre at the University of Western Australia. They also had a chance to meet renowned Australian scientist & Australian of the Year 2017 Professor Alan Mackay-Sim, who is famous for his work on stem cell research. The crew also had a trip to few tourist places in Perth and Fremantle, including Rottnest Island.