Navy personnel, including two women Agniveers, undertake a 661-nautical-mile voyage highlighting teamwork, maritime skills and sailing traditions
Kolkata, Oct 2026 : The Indian Navy’s ocean-going sailing vessel INSV Neelkanth has departed from Visakhapatnam for Sri Vijaya Puram, formerly known as Port Blair, as part of the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC).
The voyage will cover approximately 661.2 nautical miles across the Bay of Bengal and is being jointly undertaken by personnel from the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) and the ANC. The crew includes two women Agniveers, reflecting the growing participation of women in naval operations and sailing activities.
Naval officials said the expedition highlights courage, teamwork and the evolving spirit of the Indian armed forces, while providing personnel with valuable experience in long-distance ocean sailing.
On September 19, Vice Admiral Vineet McCarty, Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command, interacted with the crew of INSV Neelkanth before the voyage. According to the ANC, the interaction focused on important lessons for the expedition and ways to encourage sailing activities in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
INSV Neelkanth is a sailing yacht approximately 40 feet long and is among six ocean-going sailing vessels used by the Indian Navy for expeditions and training. The other vessels are INSV Mhadei, INSV Tarini, INSV Bulbul, INSV Hariyali and INSV Kadalpura.
The vessel has previously participated in several challenging sailing events. In 2023, it secured first place in the Inter-Command Ocean Sailing Race after covering approximately 360 nautical miles between Kochi and Goa. During the competition, the crew encountered heavy rainfall, sea conditions reaching state four and winds gusting above 25 knots over two days.
In 2024, INSV Neelkanth undertook a 100-nautical-mile expedition within 24 hours to mark the Golden Jubilee of the Navy’s submarine training establishment, INS Satavahana. Earlier, in 2021, the vessel sailed from Chennai to Visakhapatnam to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the Navy’s submarine base, INS Virbahu.
Unlike these earlier expeditions along the Indian coastline, the current voyage to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands involves sailing through open seas. Officials said the crew was well trained and the vessel capable of handling challenging weather conditions. With no significant adverse weather forecast for the immediate future, conditions were expected to remain favourable for the journey.
The voyage coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Andaman and Nicobar Command, which was established on October 1, 2001. It is India’s first and only tri-services command, bringing together the Army, Navy and Air Force, with the Coast Guard also contributing to maritime security and related operations.
The command was established to strengthen the defence of the strategically important Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which lie close to major international shipping routes in the Indian Ocean region.
Apart from conducting surveillance across India’s Exclusive Economic Zone surrounding the archipelago, the ANC plays a role in protecting the region’s fragile marine ecosystem. It is also responsible for Marine Search and Rescue operations in one of the world’s busiest maritime zones.
As part of its Silver Jubilee celebrations, the command is organising a series of activities involving local communities. The INSV Neelkanth expedition forms part of these commemorative initiatives, highlighting maritime traditions, operational preparedness and cooperation among personnel from different naval commands.
