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Panaji: The Indian Navy is all set to deploy its offshore patrol vessel, the INS Sunayna, for a unique operational engagement that will see naval personnel from 16 friendly foreign countries embarking on the joint mission to the Southeast Asian region.The Navy has decided to deploy the offshore patrol vessel as IOS Sagar for the second consecutive year as part of India’s continued cooperation with Indian Ocean Region (IOR) nations in pursuance of the vision of Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security Across the Regions (MAHASAGAR).A naval officer said crew from the various nations have started arriving at the naval base at Kochi, where they will undergo training in naval operations and maritime security.“The harbour phase of the mission has begun, where the crew is being trained and undergoing familiarisation exercises on the vessel. This will be followed by a sea sortie to validate the training, and then the INS Sunayna will sail to Mumbai for the mission flag-off,” said a naval officer.Last year, defence minister Rajnath Singh flagged off the INS Sunayna from Karwar with 44 naval personnel from nine friendly foreign nations. The IOS Sagar initiative aims to bring together the navies and maritime agencies of the Southwest Indian Ocean Region on an Indian naval vessel. It serves as an opportunity to provide training for friendly navies and to enhance collaboration in maritime security, said a naval officer.“The Indian Navy assumed the chair of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) in Feb 2026. Therefore, this edition includes participation from 16 IONS nations of the IOR,” said the Indian Navy in a statement.
