INS Sunayna returns to Kochi Naval Base after deployment in Indian Ocean

Kochi: INS Sunayna made a triumphant return to Kochi on Thursday after a month-long deployment in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) by a joint crew from nine countries, as part of Indian Navy's efforts to strengthen maritime bonds and enduring partnership with nations in the region.

Escorted by two fast interceptor crafts, INS Sunayna — deployed as Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar — was received with much fanfare by Indian Naval Band. The 44 international crew members that were part of the mission came from Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania.

Vice Admiral V Srinivas, flag officer commanding-in-chief, Southern Naval Command (SNC), congratulated the crew during the reception ceremony held at the Naval Base in Kochi. The Indian Navy's maiden initiative of IOS Sagar was flagged off by defence minister Rajnath Singh from Karwar in Karnataka on April 5.

During the deployment, the ship undertook port calls at Dar-es-Salaam, Nacala, Port Louis, Port Victoria, and Male. The mission witnessed joint naval exercises, professional and cultural exchanges, and joint EEZ surveillance of key IOR nations — Tanzania, Mozambique, Mauritius, and Seychelles.

Strengthening regional maritime cooperation between India and African nations, the ship participated in AIKEYME 2025 alongside INS Chennai and INS Kesari, which was jointly hosted by India and Tanzania from April 13 to 18. The exercise provided an opportunity for the crew of IOS Sagar to participate in the joint harbour phase and interact with the participating navies. In Mozambique, a range of collaborative activities and community engagements were held, promoting operational synergy and interoperability with Mozambique Navy.

The crew of IOS Sagar also engaged with Mauritius Police Force and undertook coordinated patrols with Mauritius Coast Guard. The visit to Port Victoria, Seychelles, was marked by cross-deck visits, training exchanges, joint yoga sessions, and maritime engagement with Seychelles Defence Force. The ship held a collaborative maritime security and regional outreach mission in the Maldives before entering Kochi.

The journey of IOS Sagar commenced with the combined harbour and sea training phase at SNC in Kochi on March 25. The mission part of Indian Navy's commitment as the ‘first responder' and ‘preferred security partner' in the IOR towards the govt's strategic vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security Across the Region).