INS Tarkash, a stealth frigate, visited Port Victoria, Seychelles from 12–15 June 2026 during its South West Indian Ocean Region deployment and escorted Seychelles Coast Guard ship PS Zoroaster after its refit at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.
Operational details
- Dates & port: Arrived 12 June 2026; ship open to public 13 June; departed 15 June.
- Deployment area: South West Indian Ocean Region (SWIOR).
- Escort mission: Escorted PS Zoroaster to Seychelles following GRSE refit.
Maritime security cooperation
- EEZ surveillance: Cooperation focused on Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) monitoring and patrols against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
- Spares transfer: Commitment to hand over critical spares and essential stores to enhance Seychelles’ maritime operational readiness.
- Operational exchanges: Professional interactions to improve patrol coordination and search-and-rescue (SAR) procedures.
Diplomacy and outreach
- Medical outreach: Ship medical team delivered first aid, basic consultations and medicines at the Plaisance Home of the Elderly.
- Community engagement: Cultural evening onboard and ship visits engaged local community and Indian diaspora.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- INS Tarkash class: Talwar-class stealth frigate (Russian-origin design).
- GRSE: Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, Kolkata — a public sector shipyard under the Ministry of Defence that undertakes shipbuilding and refits.
- Seychelles EEZ: About 1.37 million sq km maritime zone, important for tuna fisheries in the western Indian Ocean.
- MAHASAGAR: Acronym for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions — India’s regional maritime cooperation vision.