KOCHI: INS Sunayna, operating as IOS Sagar, returned to Kochi on Thursday after completing a landmark month-long deployment across the southwestern Indian Ocean. Jointly crewed by sailors from nine Indian Ocean Region (IOR) nations — Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania — the ship’s mission was a first-of-its-kind initiative under the Indian Navy’s larger MAHASAGAR vision for regional security and cooperation.
“This was a very thrilling experience, especially to operate so closely with India and personnel with other Navies in the Indian Ocean Region. It was challenging in the beginning, as you can imagine, but over time, we were able to work together as one crew, a tangible expression of our individual nations’ growing partnership,” said Inspector Rambhojun of Mauritius Coast Guard.
The journey began on April 5 from Karwar, flagged off by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Over the next month, IOS Sagar made port calls at Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania; Nacala, Mozambique; Port Louis, Mauritius; Port Victoria, Seychelles, and Male in Maldives, undertaking joint naval exercises, cultural exchanges, and coordinated patrols.
Key highlights included participation in AIKEYME 2025 (Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement), a multilateral naval exercise hosted by India and Tanzania, as well as community engagements and interoperability drills with Mozambique and Mauritius navies.
Sub Lt Martins Henriques of Mozambique, who was undertaking his first training with India, says, “It is a privilege to be able to work closely with India and other IOR Navies, and to have undergone this training. I hope to impart all I have learned to my countrymen,” he said.
So will 23-year-old Sub Lt Cedras T of Seychelles, whose memorable moment during the voyage was the port call at Port Victoria in his home country. “It was indeed a moment of pride to be on IOS Sagar. There's much to be learned from the Indian Navy and this opportunity was everything I hoped for,” he said.
In Seychelles and Maldives, the focus was on training exchange and joint outreach. Across all ports, the deployment strengthened India’s maritime ties and reinforced its role as a dependable security partner in the region.
“The Indian Navy is already our big brother. They are very strong in the region. Our relationship with India and its Navy is very cherished, and will definitely continue for many, many more years,” says Lt J S Ngulu of Tanzania.
At the homecoming ceremony arranged at the Naval Base in Kochi, Southern Naval Command chief Vice Admiral V Srinivas lauded the crew’s efforts, calling it “a new chapter in regional maritime cooperation”.
Emphasising the need for more such sustained partnerships, the officer said, “regional challenges need regional solutions”, embodied succinctly in the mission motto, ‘One Ocean, One Mission’.
Inspector Rambhojun shared the sentiment, and added, “by operating on similar intentions, sharing information and learnings, we can ensure regional security and that is of paramount importance. Mauritius looks forward to continued partnership with India in the years and decades to come.”
Lt Shaffaf Ahmed of the Maldives National Defence Force agrees. “A good relationship with India is desirable not only for the training that they impart to us, but also to show to our potential enemies that we too have the firepower,” he said. The others too agree.