Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR arrived at Phuket, Thailand, on 14 Apr
2026 on completion of a six-day transit from Malé, Maldives, marking the
second port call of it
s ongoing mission.
The IOS SAGAR-INS Sunayna, with a multinational crew from 16
Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs), is on deployment to the Indian Ocean
Region, reinforcing the vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic
Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions). The current
edition of IOS SAGAR, which commenced in Mar 2026, also reflects India’s
leadership role as Chair of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS).
During the port call at Phuket, IOS SAGAR is scheduled to engage in
professional interactions with the Royal Thai Navy (RTN), aimed at
strengthening bilateral defence cooperation and enhancing mutual
understanding. A range of social, cultural and sporting engagements are also
planned to foster camaraderie and people-to-people connect.
The ship’s stay coincides with the Songkran festival, the traditional
Thai New Year, providing an opportunity for strengthening cultural exchanges
amongst the participating navies.
During the transit from Malé, the international crew undertook structured
training activities at sea, including seamanship evolutions and operational
drills, aimed at enhancing collective readiness, interoperability and maritime
cooperation. The deployment underscores the Indian Navy’s continued
commitment to strengthening maritime partnerships and capacity building,
thereby contributing to regional security and stability.
IOS SAGAR was flagged off from Mumbai on 02 April 2026 by Hon'ble
Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth. As part of this mission, the Indian Navy
crew along with 38 personnel from 16 Friendly Foreign Countries onboard IOS
SAGAR will undertake port calls at Male, Phuket, Jakarta, Singapore, Yangon,
Chittagong and Colombo.
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=2248586
The initiative embodies the vision of ‘One Ocean, One Mission’, fostering
deeper engagement and cooperation among maritime partners.
K.V. SHARMA EDITOR
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