Panaji: Indian Navy's six-member all-women crew arrived in Goa on Monday after circumnavigating the globe in over eight months on board the naval vessel INSV Tarini. The expedition, christened 'Navika Sagar Parikrama', was flagged off from the INS Mandovi boat pool here on September 10, 2018.

Led by Lieutenant Commander Vartika Joshi, the crew had Lt Commanders Pratibha Jamwal and Swati P, and Lieutenants Aishwarya Boddapati, S Vijaya Devi and Payal Gupta as other members. They completed the feat in the 55-foot sailing vessel, INSV Tarini, which was inducted into the Indian Navy on February 18, 2018. It was the first-ever Indian circumnavigation of the globe by an all-women crew, the Navy said.

INSV Tarini has sailed over 21600Nm, visited five Countries, sailed across four Continents, three Oceans, passed South of three Capes and crossed the Equator twice! #WelcomeHomeTarini pic.twitter.com/rw5qNMgJ4v — NSitharamanOffice (@nsitharamanoffc) May 21, 2018

The expedition titled ‘Navika Sagar Parikrama’, is aimed at promoting women empowerment aligned with the Government of India’s thrust for ‘Nari Shakti’. #WelcomeHomeTarini. pic.twitter.com/VTEtdDd15W — Defence Spokesperson (@SpokespersonMoD) May 21, 2018

#WelcomeHomeTarini #INSVTarini is returning back to Goa, India after her historic circumnavigation of the globe! Smt @nsitharaman and Admiral Sunil Lanba CNS to welcome them on 21st May'18 ⛵ pic.twitter.com/7a7vTjsUO0 — Raksha Mantri (@DefenceMinIndia) May 18, 2018

#WelcomeHomeTarini Salute to skipper Lieutenant Commander Vartika Joshi and her crew - Lieutenant Commanders Pratibha Jamwal, Swati P and Lieutenants Aishwarya Boddapati, S Vijaya Devi and Payal Gupta on their return from expedition - Navika Sagar Parikrama on 21 May 2018. pic.twitter.com/0Qon0ODE4G — Defence Spokesperson (@SpokespersonMoD) May 21, 2018

Lt. Payal Gupta, Logistics Officer of INSV Tarini talks about her experiences on the voyage and warm reception by Indian diaspora during the journey. #WelcomeHomeTarini@nsitharaman @PIB_India @MIB_India @indiannavy pic.twitter.com/qSlh0xcbGa — Raksha Mantri (@DefenceMinIndia) May 21, 2018

'Team of six women officers of Indian Navy return on 21 May 2018 after circumnavigating the globe on an Indian-built sail boat INSV Tarini. #WelcomeHomeTarini. pic.twitter.com/e2J1yLeEMZ — Defence Spokesperson (@SpokespersonMoD) May 21, 2018

Lt Cdr Swathi. P, Navigation officer of INSV Tarini talks about their most challenging part of the voyage and how they successfully reached Falkland Islands from New Zealand after facing multiple storms in the South Pacific at subzero temperatures.#WelcomeHomeTarini@nsitharaman pic.twitter.com/ePIyfZj6EU — Raksha Mantri (@DefenceMinIndia) May 21, 2018

Lt Cdr Pratibha Jamwal, Hull Officer of INSV Tarini tells how the made in India Tarini has proved itself in all kinds of harsh weather conditions after circumnavigation. #WelcomeHomeTarini @nsitharaman @PIB_India @MIB_India pic.twitter.com/HZ21Omtn6o — Raksha Mantri (@DefenceMinIndia) May 21, 2018

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba welcomed them on returning home.

Smt @nsitharaman welcomes the crew of INSV Tarini along with Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba in Goa. #WelcomeHomeTarini pic.twitter.com/kYIpR9GgC4 — Raksha Mantri (@DefenceMinIndia) May 21, 2018

INSV Tarini is almost back to Goa! Smt @nsitharaman to welcome them back on 21st May'18 https://t.co/u1dIsiueVz — Raksha Mantri (@DefenceMinIndia) May 20, 2018

#WelcomeHomeTariniINSV Tarini returns back!Smt @nsitharaman & Admiral Sunil Lanba, CNS welcoming them back to Goa 1… https://t.co/dYJCpciAAc — Raksha Mantri (@DefenceMinIndia) May 21, 2018

#WelcomeHomeTariniINSV Tarini returns back!Smt @nsitharaman & Admiral Sunil Lanba, CNS welcoming them back to Goa 1… https://t.co/mLoRQ4I4gY — Raksha Mantri (@DefenceMinIndia) May 21, 2018

The six women officers trained for the project under Captain Dilip Donde, the first Indian to solo-circumnavigate the globe from August 19, 2009, to May 19, 2010, onboard the Indian-built vessel INSV Mhadei, a Navy official said, as per PTI.

RM Smt @nsitharaman had flagged-off Indian Naval Sailing Vessel Tarini (INSV Tarini) with an all women crew of six officers of Indian Navy from INS Mandovi boat pool, Goa on 10 Sep 2017, successfully accomplished ‘Navika Sagar Parikrama’, on 21 May 2018. #WelcomeHomeTarini pic.twitter.com/A1XP6UMAWM — Defence Spokesperson (@SpokespersonMoD) May 21, 2018

"The crew covered 21,600 nautical miles in the Indian-built sailing vessel INSV Tarini that visited five countries and crossed the Equator twice. It sailed across four continents and three oceans, and passed south of the three Great Capes - Leeuwin, Horn and Good Hope," a Navy spokesperson said.

The expedition was completed in six legs, with stopovers at the Fremantle (Australia), Lyttleton (New Zealand), Port Stanley (Falkland Islands), Cape Town (South Africa) and Mauritius.

(With Agency inputs)