The six women Naval officers had met the prime minister on August 16 and he had exhorted them to project the country's capabilities and strengths across the world.
The 'Navika Sagar Parikrama' was flagged off by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman near the Panaji coast. The expedition being undertaken on an India-built sail boat INS Tarini is slated to conclude in Panaji in March next year.
"Today is a special day! 6 women officers of the Navy begin their journey of circumnavigating the globe on board INSV Tarini," Modi tweeted today.
The expedition will be covered in five legs, with stopovers at 4 ports -- Fremantle (Australia), Lyttleton (New Zealand), Port Stanley (Falklands), and Cape Town (South Africa).
INSV Tarini is a 55-foot sailing vessel, which has been built indigenously, and inducted in the Indian Navy earlier this year.
The vessel is being skippered by Lt. Commander Vartika Joshi and the crew comprises Lt. Commanders Pratibha Jamwal, P Swathi, and Lieutenants S Vijaya Devi, B Aishwarya and Payal Gupta.