NE DEFENCE BUREAU
CHENNAI, AUG 29
With the sea as their arena and Dhanushkodi as their daring destination, 20 highly trained NCC cadets embarked on an adventure that went far beyond sailing—putting courage, seamanship and India’s rich maritime heritage at the heart of a challenging ocean expedition.
The NCC cadets from the Madurai and Cuddalore Groups, under the Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andaman NCC Directorate, took to the waters aboard whaler sailing boats, undertaking an Ocean Sailing Expedition from Rameswaram Harbour to Dhanushkodi and back.
Twenty highly trained NCC cadets belonging to Madurai and Cuddalore group (part of TN, P & AN NCC Directorate) took part in the Ocean Sailing Expedition on whaler boats from Rameshwaram Harbour to Dhanushkodi. The expedition was flagged off by the DDG at 0900h on 28 Aug 26. The… pic.twitter.com/IQ3csQqqGg
— HQ NCC Dte (TN,P & AN) (@NCCDte_TNPAN) August 28, 2026
- Twenty highly trained NCC cadets brave the sea on whaler boats from Rameswaram to Dhanushkodi and back
- Project SWARNUM’s ‘Kadalukku Povom’ turns the waters off Tamil Nadu into a classroom for maritime awareness
- Expedition champions India’s rich maritime legacy, blue economy and the spirit of adventure among young cadets
- After Cuddalore, Kanyakumari and Thoothukudi, Rameswaram joins the growing NCC sailing campaign along the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast
The expedition was flagged off by Commodore Sudeep Nambiath, Deputy Director General, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andaman Directorate, from Rameswaram Harbour on the morning of August 28, 2026.
‘Kadalukku Povom’: Taking NCC cadets where the land ends
The expedition forms part of Project SWARNUM, themed ‘Kadalukku Povom’, a pan-Tamil Nadu and Puducherry sailing initiative designed to take NCC cadets closer to the sea and deepen their understanding of India’s maritime inheritance.
Far from being merely an adventure at sea, the expedition seeks to cultivate among young cadets an appreciation of the country’s maritime heritage, ocean resources and the strategic importance of the blue economy.
The demanding Rameswaram-Dhanushkodi sector provided the cadets with an opportunity to translate their sailing training into practical experience while confronting the challenges of navigating the open waters.
From training grounds to the open sea
For the young sailors, the expedition was a test of discipline, teamwork, endurance and confidence. Operating whaler boats in the waters off the iconic Rameswaram coast, the cadets experienced first-hand the demands of sailing and the responsibility that comes with working as a closely coordinated crew.
The expedition also reinforces the NCC’s larger objective of exposing youth to challenging environments that build leadership qualities, resilience and a spirit of adventure.
A coastline-wide maritime movement
The Rameswaram expedition is part of a wider sailing initiative under Project SWARNUM. Similar expeditions have earlier been flagged off from Cuddalore, Kanyakumari and Thoothukudi, expanding the maritime outreach across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
Together, these expeditions are creating a distinctive coastal learning experience for NCC cadets while drawing attention to India’s longstanding relationship with the sea.
Blue economy meets youth power
By linking sailing and adventure with awareness of the blue economy, Project SWARNUM seeks to make the ocean more than a distant horizon for young people. It places the sea at the centre of conversations on India’s economic opportunities, maritime heritage and the need for responsible engagement with ocean resources.
The Rameswaram-Dhanushkodi expedition thus becomes more than a voyage from one point to another—it is a journey into India’s maritime consciousness, with a new generation of cadets learning to read the sea, respect its power and understand its significance to the nation’s future.
