INSV Tarini departs from Cape Town on final leg

Context

• The Indian Navy Sailing Vessel Tarini has set sail from Cape Town, South Africa, for Goa, on the final leg of a global circumnavigation.

• The voyage, part of the Navika Sagar Parikrama-II initiative, is being undertaken by two women officers, Lieutenant-Commander Dilna K. and Lieutenant-Commander Roopa A.

• The vessel is expected to reach Goa by the end of May.

• The Navy stated that the circumnavigation was a significant endeavour aimed at promoting ocean sailing in India, showcasing the strength and resilience of Indian women in uniform, and highlighting the country’s indigenous shipbuilding capabilities.

• The Navika Sagar Parikrama initiative underscores the Indian Navy’s commitment to gender empowerment and maritime excellence.

• It crewed by two women officers-Lieutenant Commander Dilna K and Lieutenant Commander Roopa A aims to promote ocean sailing, self-reliance, and India’s rich maritime heritage.

• The historic expedition was flagged off from Goa by the chief of the Naval Staff on October 2, 2024.

• Navika Sagar Parikrama II covering more than 21,600 nautical miles (approx 40,000 km) will unfold in five legs with stop overs at four ports for replenishment and maintenance, as required. The broad contour of voyage will be as follows:

1Goa to Fremantle, Australia

2Fremantle to Lyttleton, New Zealand

3Lyttleton to Port Stanley, Falkland

4Port Stanley to Cape Town, S Africa

5Cape Town to Goa

Point Nemo

• Point Nemo, also known as the Oceanic Pole of Inaccessibility, holds the distinction of being the farthest point from any landmass on Earth.

• This remote point lies in the South Pacific Ocean and is named after Captain Nemo, the sailor from Jules Verne’s famous novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.

• Situated approximately 2,688 km from the nearest landmass, this isolated point is famous for its extreme remoteness, with the closest human presence often being aboard the International Space Station orbiting above.

• The nearest land in each direction is:

1To the north lies Ducie Island, part of the Pitcairn Islands (British Overseas Territory).

2To the northeast is Motu Nui, one of the Easter Islands (Chilean dependency).

3To the south is Maher Island, part of Antarctica.

• Due to its isolation, the waters around Point Nemo have very little marine life, and the region falls within the South Pacific Gyre, known for having some of the clearest and least biologically active ocean waters.

• Due to its remoteness and relative lack of marine traffic, Point Nemo has become a popular location for space agencies to dispose of space junk.