INSV Neelkanth sails 661 nautical miles to Andamans for ANC Silver Jubilee
Synopsis
INSV Neelkanth is setting out on its most ambitious voyage yet — a 661.2-nautical-mile open-sea crossing from Visakhapatnam to the Andaman Islands, marking 25 years of India's only tri-services command. Past expeditions kept the vessel close to the coastline; this time, the crew faces open seas and potentially rough Andaman weather.
Key Takeaways
INSV Neelkanth departed Visakhapatnam on 19 September 2026 for a 661.2 nautical mile open-sea voyage to Sri Vijaya Puram , Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The voyage is part of the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) 's Silver Jubilee celebrations marking 25 years since its founding on 1 October 2001 .
Vice Admiral Vineet McCarty , CINCAN, personally briefed the crew at Visakhapatnam ahead of departure.
INSV Neelkanth is a nearly 40-foot ocean-racing yacht and one of six sailing vessels in the Indian Navy's fleet.
The crew may face southwest winds of 20–25 knots , rough seas, and poor visibility in the South Andaman Sea.
Previous INSV Neelkanth expeditions were along the coastline; this is the vessel's first major open-sea crossing.
INSV Neelkanth, an ocean-going sailing yacht of the Indian Navy, departed from Visakhapatnam on 19 September 2026 to undertake a 661.2 nautical mile open-sea voyage to Sri Vijaya Puram in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, marking the Silver Jubilee of the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC). The voyage, one of the vessel's most demanding expeditions to date, is expected to take the crew through open seas and potentially rough weather conditions in the Andaman Sea.
CINCAN Meets the Crew Ahead of Voyage
Vice Admiral Vineet McCarty, Commander-in-Chief of the ANC (CINCAN), met the crew of INSV Neelkanth at Visakhapatnam on Saturday, 19 September 2026, ahead of the departure. According to the ANC, 'the interaction focused on key lessons for the voyage and inspiring the future of sailing in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.' The briefing underscored the strategic and training significance the command attaches to this expedition.
About INSV Neelkanth and the Navy's Sailing Fleet
INSV Neelkanth is a nearly 40-foot-long ocean-racing sailing yacht and one of six ocean-going sailing vessels the Indian Navy maintains for expeditions and training purposes. The other five vessels in the fleet are INSV Mhadei, INSV Tarini, INSV Bulbul, INSV Hariyali, and INSV Kadalpura. The vessel has a distinguished track record: in 2023, it claimed first place in the Inter Command Ocean Sailing Race, covering 360 nautical miles from Kochi to Goa, with a mixed-gender crew navigating sea states of up to force 04 and sustained gusts exceeding 25 knots. In 2024, it completed a 100-nautical-mile expedition in 24 hours to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the Navy's submarine training school INS Satavahana.
Why This Voyage Is Different
Previous INSV Neelkanth expeditions were conducted along the Indian coastline. The Andaman voyage, however, is an open-sea passage — a considerably more challenging operational environment. Meteorological assessments indicate the crew may encounter rough seas, poor visibility, and southwest winds of 20–25 knots over the South Andaman Sea, with a low-pressure system potentially developing in the area. An official was quoted as saying: 'The crew is extremely well-trained, and the vessel is capable of handling all weather conditions. In fact, it will be a very good experience for those participating in the expedition.'
About the Andaman and Nicobar Command
The ANC, established on 1 October 2001, is India's first and only tri-services command, integrating the Indian Navy, Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Indian Coast Guard under a unified structure. Headquartered at Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair), the ANC is responsible for defending the strategically vital Andaman and Nicobar archipelago, conducting surveillance along India's Exclusive Economic Zone, protecting the region's fragile marine ecosystem, and managing Marine Search and Rescue (MSAR) operations in one of the world's busiest maritime zones. The command's Silver Jubilee in 2026 marks 25 years of its existence, with a series of celebratory activities already under way, some involving local island residents.
As INSV Neelkanth charts its course through open seas, the voyage is set to mark a high point in the ANC's jubilee calendar and further cement the Indian Navy's tradition of deep-sea sail expeditions.
Point of View
25-year-old institution. The choice of an open-sea sail rather than a coastal hop signals deliberate ambition: the Navy is using the jubilee to test and showcase deep-sea readiness, not just mark an anniversary. What deserves closer attention is the strategic context — the Andaman Sea sits astride some of the world's busiest shipping lanes, and a command that also handles ecosystem protection and MSAR alongside hard defence mandates is stretching resources across very different mission types. Whether the Silver Jubilee prompts a reappraisal of ANC's resourcing is a question the celebrations, however well choreographed, will not answer.
NationPress
20 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is INSV Neelkanth and why is it sailing to the Andaman Islands?
INSV Neelkanth is a nearly 40-foot ocean-going sailing yacht of the Indian Navy. It is undertaking a 661.2-nautical-mile open-sea voyage from Visakhapatnam to Sri Vijaya Puram as part of the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC), which completes 25 years in October 2026.
What is the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC)?
The ANC is India's first and only tri-services command, established on 1 October 2001 and headquartered at Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair). It integrates the Indian Navy, Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard to defend the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, patrol India's Exclusive Economic Zone, and conduct Marine Search and Rescue operations.
What weather challenges could the INSV Neelkanth crew face?
The crew may encounter rough seas, poor visibility, and southwest winds of 20–25 knots over the South Andaman Sea, with a possible low-pressure system developing in the area. Officials have stated the crew is well-trained and the vessel is capable of handling all weather conditions.
What is INSV Neelkanth's track record in past expeditions?
In 2023, INSV Neelkanth won first place in the Inter Command Ocean Sailing Race, covering 360 nautical miles from Kochi to Goa. In 2024, it completed a 100-nautical-mile expedition in 24 hours to mark the Golden Jubilee of INS Satavahana, the Navy's submarine training school. Earlier, in 2021, it sailed from Chennai to Visakhapatnam for the Golden Jubilee of INS Virbahu.
How does this voyage differ from INSV Neelkanth's previous expeditions?
All previous INSV Neelkanth expeditions were conducted along the Indian coastline. The 661.2-nautical-mile voyage to the Andaman Islands is its first major open-sea crossing, making it considerably more demanding in terms of weather, navigation, and crew endurance.
