The vessel, commanded by Commander Nitin Gajjar, is on its return passage from Visakhapatnam after participating in International Fleet Review 2026. During its port call in Trincomalee, the ship will embark three officers and 25 trainee officers from the Sri Lanka Navy for ocean sailing training during the voyage to Colombo.
The Indian Navy is among the few navies globally that continue to operate sail training ships in the modern era. INS Tarangini was designed by renowned yacht designer Colin Mudie and built indigenously at Goa Shipyard Limited. The vessel measures approximately 54 metres in length, displaces around 500 tons, and carries 20 sails covering more than 10,000 square feet, supported by nearly 200 ropes extending over 20 kilometres if laid out.
A three-masted barque, INS Tarangini is the first Sail Training Ship of the Indian Navy and is part of the First Training Squadron based in Kochi. Its primary role is to provide sail training to officer trainees of the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard. The ship’s complement includes seven officers and 30 sailors and can accommodate up to 30 cadets at a time.
The name “Tarangini” is derived from the Hindi word “Tarang,” meaning waves, signifying “the one that rides the waves.” The ship holds the distinction of being the first Indian Naval vessel to circumnavigate the globe, achieving the feat in 2004 by covering 35,000 nautical miles and calling at 37 ports in 18 countries. It has also retraced ancient Indian maritime routes to Southeast Asia and participated in major international fleet reviews and tall ship races.
The Indian Navy noted that even in an era of advanced technology and automation, sail training remains fundamental to instilling seamanship skills, understanding of sea and wind, and fostering values such as courage, camaraderie, and endurance among future naval officers. The visit is expected to further strengthen naval cooperation and goodwill between India and Sri Lanka.
