INS Tarangini returns to a warm reception

Kochi, Oct 29 (UNI) Indian Navy's only Sail Training Ship, INS Tarangini, arrived here today after a ten-month voyage named 'Lokayan 07', in which the ship called at 24 ports in 16 countries.

In a function at the Naval Base here, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Naval Command S K Damle welcomed the ship after it was escorted into the harbour by two tugs from the Naval Ship Repair Yard, sailing boats, water scooter and speed boats from Seamanship School.

During the voyage, the ship with a crew of seven officers and 43 sailors under Commander Sunil Balakrishnan trained 279 trainees from the Navy and 16 the of Indian Coast Guard besides embarking 18 foreign trainee officers from 15 countries including Australia, Canada, Brazil, UK, US, Netherlands and Sri Lanka.

The ship, which set sail on January 10, traversed over 22,000 nautical miles covering major water bodies of the world including Atlantic Ocean and flying the Tricolour in the ports of Asia, Africa, North America and Europe.

The ship, undertaking her third major voyage, embarked cadets of the First Training Squadron, INS Shivajio, INS Mnadovi and naval cadets of the National Defence Academy (NDA), in batches at select ports of the voyage.

Earlier, Tarangini had circumnavigated the globe between January 2003 and April 2004 with the theme of 'Building Bridges of Friendship across the Oceans' calling at 70 ports in 18 countries covering 34,923 nautical miles.

In her second voyage, the ship covered the high seas of Europe aimed at 'Strenghtening the Bridges of Friendship across the Ships' calling at 16 ports in 13 countries covering 15,000 nautical miles during April-November 2005.

UNI