The voyage will see the ship visit 18 foreign ports in 13 countries – making it one of the Indian Navy’s most extensive sail training deployments in recent years. Officials described the expedition as part of ongoing efforts to project India’s maritime heritage and expand professional engagement with partner navies overseas, in their statement.
INS Sudarshini Lokayan 26 mission: What is planned
INS Sudarshini’s itinerary includes participation in two major international tall-ship events. The vessel will take part in Escale à Sète in France and SAIL 250 in New York. Both events bring together historic sailing ships and training vessels from navies around the world.
ALSO READ | India’s hand-stitched vessel INSV Kaundinya retraces ancient maritime routes, reaches Oman
During these port calls, INS Sudarshini will represent India’s traditional seafaring practices and sail training legacy. The ship is expected to host outreach activities and professional exchanges alongside other participating vessels, the statement read.
Training role for Navy and Coast Guard cadets
More than 200 trainees from the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard will be part of the deployment. The programme is designed to provide hands-on exposure to long-range navigation, watchkeeping, and traditional seamanship under sail.
Life onboard a tall ship remains demanding. Long sea legs, limited automation, and reliance on wind conditions form a central part of the training experience. The deployment will also allow trainees to interact with counterparts from foreign navies, offering opportunities for informal learning and professional exchange.
Maritime engagement and cooperation
Apart from training, INS Sudarshini will conduct maritime partnership interactions with host nations during port visits. These engagements are aligned with India’s broader maritime cooperation initiatives – including the MAHASAGAR framework.
Officials noted that such deployments are intended to strengthen operational familiarity, trust, and coordination with regional and global maritime partners.
About INS Sudarshini
Commissioned as the Indian Navy’s second sail training ship, INS Sudarshini has already logged over 1,40,000 nautical miles across earlier deployments. With Lokayan 26, the vessel continues its role as a platform for training, outreach, and sustained naval presence.
The expedition is scheduled to conclude later in 2026, following completion of its planned port visits and training objectives.
(Edited by : Sudarsanan Mani)
First Published: Jan 20, 2026 11:14 AM IST
