In a significant step to reinforce India’s commitment to regional maritime security and international cooperation, INS Sunayna, an Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) of the Indian Navy, set sail from Mumbai as Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR, on 2 April 2026. The ship onboard naval personnel from India and 16 maritime forces of Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs).  It was flagged off by state defence minister Sanjay Seth in the presence of Naval Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi.

During his address, the minister underscored that IOS SAGAR initiative is a reflection of India’s collective vision of ‘leadership through partnership, strength through unity, and progress through peace.’ He highlighted the recent return of INSV Kaundinya from Oman, symbolising the growing maritime cooperation between the two countries and emphasised that IOS SAGAR 2026 carries forward the same spirit of engagement, expanding it into a broader and more inclusive framework of regional partnerships.

Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on ‘a free, open, inclusive Indo-Pacific is in the interest of all nations’ Seth underscored India’s approach of Neighbourhood First and Vision MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions). He highlighted that IOS SAGAR is a practical and operational expression of vision MAHASAGAR, and it brings together partner nations on a shared platform for training, collaboration, and collective readiness, demonstrating that maritime security is most effective when it is built through cooperation and shared responsibility.

In his address, Naval Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi highlighted the evolving maritime landscape marked by increasing contestation, IUU fishing, piracy, narco-trafficking and emerging competition over critical resources, and underscored the need for collaborative approaches to ensure a free, open and secure Indian Ocean. “In a complex maritime environment, coming together of 16 like-minded maritime countries for shared purpose and collective commitment through IOS SAGAR is rare and significant,” said Admiral Tripathi.

The mission completed its Harbour Phase from 16-29 March 2026, enabling professional exchanges, training, and coordination among participating personnel, and will undergo the Sea Phase from 2 April to 20 May 2026 through operational deployment across the South-Eastern Indian Ocean Region (IOR). During this IOS SAGAR will undertake port calls at Colombo, Sri Lanka, Phuket, Thailand, Jakarta, Indonesia, Singapore, Chittagong, Bangladesh, Yangon, Myanmar, Male, and Maldives and conclude the deployment at Kochi, India. The crew will be trained in seamanship, navigation, communication procedures, maritime safety, firefighting, damage control, VBSS operations, and advanced bridgemanship to enhance operational readiness and decision-making capabilities in complex maritime environments.

During the flag-off ceremony of IOS SAGAR, Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command, and dignitaries from missions of the participating countries were also present.