Port Blair, Apr 18: The Indian Naval Sailing Vessel, INSV Mhadei, arrived Port Blair on 09 Apr 12. The sailing vessel is on a voyage toSouth East Asiawith an aim to give experience to Naval personnel in ocean sailing and also to provide day experience to Naval personnel of local units during stopovers. The sail ship casted off fromGoaon 17 Mar 12 and will cover approximately5000 miles.
INSV Mhadei was inducted into the Navy on12 Feb 2009. Conceived by Vice Adm (Retd) MP Awati, VrC, Project Sagar Parikrama aimed at creating history by completing a solo circumnavigation of the globe under sails which was successfully achieved by Cdr Dilip Donde, the first skipper of the sailing boat, on19 May 2010. Cdr Dilip Donde created history when he successfully completed the voyage and became the first Indian and 175th person in the world to do so. Presently the sailing vessel is commanded by Lt Cdr Abhilash Tomy.
During her stay at Port Blair, 45 children fromNavalChildrenSchool, Kendriya Vidyalaya and Naval NCC were provided with sailing experience sorties. The students were delighted by this unique sailing experience.
INSV Mhadei departed Port Blair on 18 Apr 12 for Langkawi and will thereafter call at Phuket before returning toIndia.
