The Indian Navy launched the second edition of the ‘Indian Ocean Ship – SAGAR’ initiative earlier this week, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening maritime security and cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region.
This edition comes soon after India assumed the chair of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) in February, bringing together participation from 16 member nations of the region.
“The exercise is part of India’s vision of SAGAR — Security and Growth for All in the Region,” an officer explained, on the sidelines of a ‘Day at Sea’ voyage aboard the offshore patrol vessel INS Sunanya on Thursday.
“This aligns with the wider framework of MAHASAGAR — Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security Across the Regions.”
The initiative allows naval personnel from friendly foreign countries to train and sail together on board an Indian naval ship. “This is to promote coordination, interoperability, and shared understanding of maritime operations,” the officer added.
The programme began with training sessions at naval establishments in Kochi, where participants observed key aspects of naval operations and maritime security. This was followed by a joint sea deployment, with personnel sailing together and taking part in operational activities.
The camaraderie was evident during the voyage as officers from foreign navies took part in operational demos such as chopper landing, VBSS (visit, board, search and seizure), firefighting, and jackstay transfer between INS Sunanya and INS Tir.
In the coming days, the officer added, the ship will also make port visits and engage with partner navies and maritime agencies. “This will help strengthen ties, exchange best practices and address shared maritime challenges,” he said.
Participating countries:
1.UAE
2.INDONESIA
3.MALAYSIA
4.MYANMAR
5.SINGAPORE
6.THAILAND
7.MALDIVES
8.SEYCHELLES
9. SRI LANKA
10. KENYA
11. MAURITIUS
12. MOZAMBIQUE
13. SOUTH AFRICA
14. TANZANIA
15. TIMOR LESTE
16. BANGLADESH