INS Sudarshini sails for Portugal after showcasing India’s maritime strength in US
INS Sudarshini sails for Portugal. (Image courtesy: PIB)
New Delhi: Indian Navy’s sail training ship INS Sudarshini has left Boston for Ponta Delgada in the Azores, Portugal, beginning the next phase of its ongoing Lokayan 26 deployment. The departure on July 25 followed the vessel’s extensive participation in events organised in the US to mark the country’s 250th anniversary of independence.
Sudarshini’s US deployment brought the Navy into contact with foreign naval delegations, Indian diaspora members and dignitaries through a series of events held in Norfolk, Baltimore, New York and Boston. The ship’s participation in SAIL 250 and the International Naval Review 250 provided a platform for India to showcase its maritime traditions while expanding naval and cultural engagement with partner countries, according to the ministry.
The vessel also featured in SAIL250 Maryland and Airshow Baltimore, where international tall ships, military vessels and aircraft came together for the anniversary celebrations. The Ministry of Defence said the engagements reflected India’s commitment to maritime cooperation and friendship.
The Portugal leg now takes the ship further into its long-distance deployment under Lokayan 26. The Navy launched the voyage from Kochi on January 20 with the broader objective of strengthening international goodwill, expanding maritime outreach and giving naval cadets experience of extended operations at sea.
The voyage has already taken Sudarshini across the Atlantic, with the ship reaching Antigua on May 27 after completing its trans-Atlantic passage. Its onward movement from the US to the Azores marks another stage in a deployment that has combined sail training with India’s international maritime engagement.
Commanded by Commander Ravikanth Nandoori, Sudarshini is designed specifically for sail training and can accommodate 30 cadets alongside five officers and 31 sailors. The 54-metre, three-masted vessel has 20 sails and can remain at sea for at least 20 days, making it suitable for prolonged training voyages.
The Indian Navy’s sail training deployments are part of its efforts to use such deployments for professional development and diplomatic outreach. The ship continues its voyage across the Atlantic Ocean and towards Europe. Sudarshini, through such voyages, is a visible representation of India’s maritime heritage and naval professionalism overseas.
