The Indian Navy has flagged off offshore patrol vessel INS Sunayna as the Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR amid rising instability in West Asia and growing maritime security concerns in the Indian Ocean Region. The vessel will sail with Indian Navy personnel and representatives from 16 foreign countries. The launch reflects India’s emphasis on regional maritime cooperation, capacity building and a secure sea-lane environment.
Flag-off and Mission Profile
INS Sunayna was flagged off at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, by the Minister of State for Defence in the presence of the Chief of Naval Staff. The deployment is part of the IOS SAGAR initiative, which aims to strengthen partnership among Indian Ocean littoral states and friendly nations. The mission is also intended to show India’s role as a net security provider in the region.
Port Calls and Training Agenda
During the deployment, IOS SAGAR will visit Colombo, Phuket, Jakarta, Singapore, Chittagong, Yangon and Male before concluding at Kochi. The voyage will focus on practical maritime training and interoperability. Key areas include:
- Seamanship and navigation
- Communication procedures
- Maritime safety
- Firefighting and damage control
- Visit, board, search and seizure operations
Maritime Security Concerns
The deployment comes at a time when maritime competition is widening beyond oil and energy. Strategic rivalry now includes rare earth elements, minerals, fishing grounds and data. The Indian Ocean Region is also facing threats from illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, piracy, armed robbery, narco-trafficking and unauthorised deep-sea activities that can affect sovereign rights.
Indian Ocean Region Significance
The Indian Navy has brought into light the scale of maritime challenges in the region, including thousands of incidents and rising narcotics seizures. The IOS SAGAR mission underlines the importance of cooperative maritime security, domain awareness and rules-based use of the seas in a strategically sensitive region.
Last Modified: April 28, 2026