New Delhi | July 31, 2026
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hosted a felicitation ceremony in the national capital to honor the nine officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force who achieved India’s first-ever all-women tri-service circumnavigation aboard the IASV Triveni.
Dubbed ‘Samudra Pradakshina’, the 314-day voyage saw the team navigate nearly 25,500 nautical miles across four oceans. Highlighting the feat as a prime example of operational integration and ‘Nari Shakti’, the Defence Minister noted that the officers successfully dismantled traditional military stereotypes through endurance, technical mastery, and joint action.
The expedition fulfilled all international circumnavigation criteria—crossing the Equator twice, traversing the International Date Line, and rounding the Three Great Capes: Cape Leeuwin, Cape Horn, and the Cape of Good Hope. Crossing the notoriously treacherous Drake Passage also earned the crew induction into the elite fraternity of Cape Horners.
Expedition Snapshot
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Mission: Samudra Pradakshina
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Vessel: IASV Triveni
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Composition: 9 Officers (Tri-Service: Army, Navy, Air Force)
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Scale: 314 Days | ~25,500 Nautical Miles | 4 Oceans
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Landmarks: Cape Leeuwin, Cape Horn, Cape of Good Hope & Drake Passage
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Impact: Tri-service integration, global military diplomacy, and gender barrier demolition in defense
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Domain: Defense Infrastructure, Maritime Operations & Joint Services
