Deputy Director General, NCC TN, P & AN Directorate — **Commodore Nambiath Sudeep** Deputy Director General NCC TN, P & AN Directorate

Vision of DDG

The sea has been an integral part of Tamil Nadu's history, culture and prosperity. Project SWARNUM seeks to reconnect our youth with this rich maritime heritage while creating awareness of the immense opportunities offered by the Blue Economy.

SWARNUM represents:

Visit to Porunai Museum

Cadets at the Porunai Museum beside a traditional sailing-ship model

Contingent with the SWARNUM banner outside Porunai Museum

Sailing across iconic locations

Naval Unit NCC whaler sailing off the coast

Cleanship drives at beaches

Students and cadets at a beach clean-up drive

Volunteers clearing litter along the shoreline

World Ocean Day celebrations

Celebrating World Yoga Day

Mangrove forest plantation drive — World Mangrove Day

World Mangrove Day plantation drive with cadets and the SWARNUM banner

Sailing at Dhanushkodi

Sailing across the Gadilam river at Cuddalore

Porunai Museum visit at Tirunelveli

Sailing skills

Visit to Mahabalipuram

Visit to Porunai Museum

Visit to Mahabalipuram

Visit to NIOT (National Institute of Ocean Technology)

Cadets at NIOT viewing the ocean observation system

Contingent with the SWARNUM banner at the NIOT entrance

Cadets and officers at the NIOT entrance

Visit to INS Parundu, Naval Air Base

Cadets with a Navy helicopter in the hangar

Cadets beside a naval helicopter with the pilot

Naval officer briefing cadets in the hangar

Visit to the Vivekananda Memorial and Thiruvalluvar statue

Visit to Thoothukudi Port

Naval Unit NCC whaler sailing off Thoothukudi

Contingent at the Thoothukudi lighthouse

Through this expedition, we envision nurturing disciplined, skilled and environmentally conscious cadets who understand our maritime legacy, appreciate the ocean's ecological significance and recognise its potential for sustainable economic growth.

The voyage across the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast is therefore not merely a sailing expedition, but a journey connecting our maritime past with the Blue Economy of the future.

Foreword

From the Group Commander

Col Ashish Tiwari Group Commander, Pondicherry Group

The ocean has been a timeless part of our history, culture and prosperity, shaping the lives and traditions of communities along our coast. Project SWARNUM — Ocean Sailing Expedition 2026 is an endeavour to reconnect our NCC cadets with this rich maritime heritage and inspire them to discover the sea beyond the horizon.

The expedition seeks to foster a deeper understanding of our coastal heritage, maritime traditions and the vast potential of the Blue Economy, while promoting awareness of the need to protect and preserve our marine environment.

For our cadets, this voyage is an opportunity to develop courage, discipline, teamwork, leadership and resilience through real experiences at sea. More importantly, it is an opportunity to appreciate our maritime past and envision their role in shaping a sustainable maritime future.

May Project SWARNUM inspire our young cadets to sail with purpose, learn with curiosity and serve with responsibility, carrying forward the spirit of our maritime heritage into the future.

5 (TN) Naval Unit

The Flag Bearers of the Expedition

Swarnum OSE 2026 — A Journey Beyond the Horizon

Being part of Swarnum Ocean Sailing Expedition 2026 as Officer-in-Charge was an experience that tested not just our seamanship, but our patience, resilience and faith in one another. The sight of young cadets setting out into the open sea in three whaler boats, with excitement and apprehension in equal measure, remains etched in my memory.

Life at sea has its own lessons; the changing winds, unpredictable waves and long hours of sailing teach humility in ways no classroom can. There were moments of exhaustion, uncertainty and discomfort, but there was also the quiet satisfaction of overcoming each challenge together.

As OIC, I found the greatest joy not merely in navigating the boats, but in watching the cadets gradually discover their own courage and confidence. The sea stripped away familiar comforts and brought out qualities that often remain hidden in everyday life: patience, initiative, discipline and mutual trust.

Looking back, the greatest achievement was not the distance covered, but the transformation I witnessed in the young sailors who shared this journey. Swarnum OSE 2026 has left me with memories of the sea, friendships forged through adversity and the enduring conviction that the finest lessons in leadership are learnt when we venture beyond the familiar.

Lt Cdr David Thomas, Administrative Officer, 5 TN Naval Unit NCC — **Lt Cdr David Thomas** Administrative Officer · 5 TN Naval Unit NCC

Sailing has always been an adventure that tests one’s courage, endurance, and adaptability. As the Executive Officer of 5 TN Naval NCC Unit, I have had the privilege of sailing aboard DK Whalers and imparting my knowledge and experience to NCC cadets. Organising this year’s Ocean Sailing Expedition across the vast coastline of Tamil Nadu was an experience that presented unique challenges and invaluable learning opportunities. For every seafarer, understanding the characteristics of each coastal location and respecting the ever-changing moods of the ocean are essential. The cadets experienced firsthand the power of the sea, confronting challenging waves and gusting winds while learning to remain alert, resilient, and adaptable to changing maritime conditions. The enthusiasm, determination, and josh displayed by every cadet reflected their commitment to the expedition and transformed it into an unforgettable experience that will remain etched in their memories for a lifetime.

Beyond the challenges of sailing, the expedition provided a meaningful platform for holistic development under the SWARNUM framework, offering cadets valuable insights into service, social responsibility, and nation-building. Interactions with fishing communities helped them appreciate the lives, challenges, and contributions of coastal communities, while visits and engagements centred on naval heritage instilled a deeper sense of pride in the nation’s maritime legacy. Participation in various Social Service and Community Development (SSCD) activities further strengthened their sense of empathy, responsibility, and commitment to society. As an organising officer, witnessing the transformation of these young cadets through teamwork, perseverance, discipline, and purposeful engagement was deeply fulfilling. The expedition was not merely a sailing adventure; it was a journey of character-building that reinforced the values of leadership, camaraderie, and responsible citizenship, inspiring each cadet to become a better individual and contribute meaningfully towards building a stronger and better nation.

Chief Petty Officer Arjun Singh, Logistics (Material), 5 TN Naval Unit NCC — **Arjun Singh, CPO LOG (MAT)**

It was a wonderful and memorable experience for me to be a part of the NCC Ocean Sailing Expedition, along with NCC cadets. During this expedition, we covered several important locations in Tamil Nadu, including Kanyakumari, Thoothukudi, Rameswaram, Chennai and Kattupalli.

This expedition was much more than just travelling and exploring new places. It was a perfect combination of adventure, learning, teamwork and practical experiences. One of the most exciting highlights was the 27 DK Whaler sailing activity. I would especially like to mention that this was my first experience sailing in a 27 DK Whaler since 2013. Getting this opportunity again after such a long gap brought back wonderful memories, and it was truly an exciting and fulfilling experience for me. Being out at sea and sharing this experience with the cadets made it even more special.

We also visited several historical places across Kanyakumari, Thoothukudi, Rameswaram and Chennai. Exploring these places and understanding their historical and cultural significance was truly fascinating. I had read about many of these places in books, but getting the opportunity to visit them in person and experience their significance was something truly special. Honestly, without this expedition, I might never have had the opportunity to explore some of these wonderful places.

One of the best aspects of this expedition was the teamwork and coordination among all of us. We performed every task collectively, supported each other and faced different situations as a team. We also received excellent cooperation from instructors and cadets of other NCC units at various locations. The coordination, mutual support and bonding among everyone made this expedition even more successful and enjoyable.

Personally, this journey taught me valuable lessons about teamwork, leadership, discipline, coordination and adaptability. It also gave me an opportunity to interact closely with the cadets, understand them better and share several memorable experiences with them.

Overall, this expedition was a truly enriching and unforgettable journey. I strongly believe that such expeditions provide learning beyond classrooms, build confidence, develop leadership qualities and create a strong sense of unity and responsibility among cadets. I feel fortunate to have been a part of this wonderful journey, and these memories will always remain special to me.

Petty Officer Sitaram, 5 TN Naval Unit NCC — **Sitaram PO**

I got the opportunity to participate in sailing activities and train NCC Cadets on a DK Whaler Boat for two months. It was my first sailing experience, and as an NCC Instructor, it was a completely new, exciting, and valuable learning experience for me.

During these two months, I got the opportunity to teach the cadets about boat handling, teamwork, discipline, coordination, and the importance of following safety rules during sailing. As an Instructor, I learned that training cadets is not just about providing them with technical knowledge, but also about developing their confidence, leadership skills, sense of responsibility, and team spirit.

Initially, sailing was a new experience for me as well, but with time, I improved my knowledge and gained practical experience. Along with training the cadets, I also learned many new things myself. This experience helped me understand the importance of discipline, patience, alertness, teamwork, and making the right decisions at the right time during sailing.

Overall, these two months were very memorable and educational for me. This experience boosted my confidence as an Instructor and motivated me to train NCC Cadets even better in the future.