India Launches Multinational Naval Voyage: INS Sunayna Sets Sail as IOS SAGAR
Rajnath Singh inaugurates ₹2,000 Cr Karwar facilities, asserts Indian Navy’s leadership in ensuring IOR balance and security.
BNH NETWORK
New Delhi - Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh flagged off the Indian Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel INS Sunayna as the Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR from Karwar Naval Base, Karnataka. This historic deployment carries 44 personnel from nine friendly nations of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), marking a significant leap in regional maritime diplomacy.
The event also witnessed the inauguration of over ₹2,000 crore worth of state-of-the-art operational, repair, and logistics infrastructure under Project Seabird, further reinforcing India’s maritime strength and self-reliance.
While addressing dignitaries and naval representatives from Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania, the Defence Minister asserted India’s unwavering commitment to peace, prosperity, and collective security in the IOR. “In our waters, no nation will be dominated by another, regardless of economic or military might,” he stated firmly.
Coinciding with National Maritime Day and the 10th anniversary of the SAGAR initiative, the IOS SAGAR mission also aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s broader MAHASAGAR vision—Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions.
With planned port calls in Dar-es-Salaam, Nacala, Port Louis, and Port Victoria, the voyage will offer hands-on training for participating nations, covering advanced naval drills including firefighting, damage control, VBSS, bridge operations, seamanship, and more—strengthening interoperability across regional forces.
This collaborative naval effort not only honors India's maritime legacy—symbolized by the 1919 voyage of SS Loyalty—but also signals a future-forward push for a safer, inclusive, and secure maritime environment in the Indian Ocean.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Historic Flag-Off: INS Sunayna sets sail as IOS SAGAR from Karwar, carrying multinational crew, reaffirming India’s role as a regional maritime leader.
- Global Cooperation: Crew includes personnel from nine IOR nations, reflecting growing trust in India's maritime capability.
- Strategic Infrastructure: ₹2,000 crore worth Project Seabird inaugurated to boost Karwar Naval Base operations and West Coast readiness.
Training for Unity: Real-time training in naval operations to enhance interoperability among IOR navies. - SAGAR to MAHASAGAR: IOS SAGAR reflects the evolution of India’s maritime vision into a broader regional leadership framework.
- Aatmanirbhar Push: Over 90% of materials used in Project Seabird sourced domestically under ‘Make in India’.
- Legacy Meets Future: Launched on National Maritime Day to honor India's first merchant voyage (SS Loyalty) and shape the future of IOR cooperation.
