Indian Navy barque visiting Malta

A magnificent Indian Navy three-masted barque, the INS Tarangini, will be calling in Grand Harbour tomorrow on a four-day visit. The visit has been made possible through collaboration between the High Commission of India and the Maltese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Built at the Goa Shipyard and commissioned in 1997, the Tarangini was designed by British naval architect Colin Mudie. She forms part of the First Training Squadron based at Kochi, India. This barque is built for worldwide operations and carries 20 sails with a total sail area of almost 1,000 square metres.

The ship has a very high endurance and can remain at sea continuously for more than 20 days. She has a complement of seven officers and 43 sailors as permanent crew and can accommodate 30 cadets at a time for sail training.

Between January 23, 2003, and April 25, 2004, the Tarangini circumnavigated the globe calling at 37 ports in 18 countries, covering 34,923 nautical miles. She also participated in the Tall Ship Races in the Great Lakes winning the ASTA Great Lakes Challenge in 2003.

In 2005, she sailed across the seas of Europe with the aim of "Strengthening the Bridges of Friendship across the Seas". On her current voyage, which will take her to 24 ports in 16 countries, Tarangini is scheduled to participate in the Tall Ship Challenge Series 07, which includes a series of events such as the World Peace Cup, Sail Virginia, Sail Rhode Island and Sail Boston.

The INS Tarangini arrives in Grand Harbour tomorrow, berthing at Pinto Wharf at 8 a.m. The ship will be open to visitors tomorrow and on Tuesday between 10 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. It departs on Thursday.

This is the first official business being handled by Thomas Smith Co. Ltd on behalf of the Indian Navy after the recent appointment of the company as their port agents in Malta. Thomas Smith is a specialist company in the port agency field and has been representing the British Royal Navy, the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary and the Royal Australian Navy for a number of years. More information from www.tcsmith.com or on tel: 2124-5071.