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INS Sunayna Begins Mission IOS SAGAR
INS Sunayna Sets Sail on Mission IOS SAGAR, Strengthening Regional Maritime Cooperation
The Indian Navy’s Offshore Patrol Vessel (NOPV) INS Sunayna embarked on its ambitious Mission IOS SAGAR (Security & Growth for All in the Region) from Karwar today, marking a key step in India’s commitment to maritime security and regional collaboration in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
The vessel was flagged off by Hon’ble Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, in the presence of naval personnel and dignitaries. On board are 44 naval personnel from nine Friendly Foreign Nations (FFNs), representing a remarkable example of international cooperation on a single Indian Naval platform.
Mission IOS SAGAR is designed to enhance maritime interoperability and capacity building among IOR countries. It brings together navies and maritime agencies from the Southwest Indian Ocean Region, offering them comprehensive hands-on sea training onboard INS Sunayna. The crew will engage in advanced exercises such as firefighting, damage control, Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS), bridge operations, seamanship, engine room management, switchboard operations, and boat handling.
During its deployment, INS Sunayna will make port calls at Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania), Nacala (Mozambique), Port Louis (Mauritius), and Port Victoria (Seychelles), further cementing India’s strategic ties with its maritime neighbors.
The FFN sea-riders onboard have previously undergone professional training at naval institutions in Kochi, and Mission IOS SAGAR will now allow them to apply those skills in real-time, cooperative scenarios at sea.
The initiative reflects India’s vision for an inclusive, rules-based maritime order in the region, reinforcing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s SAGAR doctrine for security and growth in the Indian Ocean.
As the vessel sails forth, it not only represents naval strength but also India’s commitment to promoting peace, stability, and cooperation across the Indian Ocean. The flag-off ceremony was streamed live on the Indian Navy’s official YouTube channel.
