New Delhi: INS Sudarshini’s historic port call at Safaga, Egypt marks a significant milestone in the Indian Navy’s global outreach and training mission. On February 21, 2026, the Indian Navy’s sail training ship arrived at the Red Sea port of Safaga, covering 1,832 nautical miles from Salalah in just 16 days as part of the ongoing Lokayan-26 expedition. This voyage underscores India’s growing maritime cooperation with Egypt and highlights professional seamanship, resilience, and deepening bilateral ties at sea.
About INS Sudarshini and Lokayan-26
INS Sudarshini is a three-masted sail training ship of the Indian Navy, used for high-seas training and international goodwill missions.
Built by Goa Shipyard Limited, it serves as a platform for naval cadets and officer trainees to learn traditional seamanship, navigation, and teamwork under sail power.
What is Lokayan-26
Lokayan-26 is a ten-month transoceanic deployment that began in January 2026, with INS Sudarshini sailing over 22,000 nautical miles and visiting multiple international ports across Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America. The journey aims to showcase India’s rich maritime heritage, support naval diplomacy, and strengthen maritime partnerships with friendly nations.
Details of INS Sudarshini Historic Port Call at Safaga, Egypt
On 21 February 2026, INS Sudarshini arrived at Safaga Naval Base, Egypt, where the ship was formally welcomed by local Egyptian Navy officials and members of the Indian Embassy. The ship’s Commanding Officer met with Rear Admiral Ramy Ahmed Ismail Mohamed, Base Commander of the Red Sea and Safaga Naval Base, reflecting the significance of this port visit for bilateral naval cooperation.
Key Importance
During the stay, Indian and Egyptian naval personnel are engaging in professional exchanges, sharing best practices in sail training and seamanship. The programme also includes community outreach activities to foster goodwill, people-to-people links, and enhanced maritime interoperability between the two navies.
Operational Challenges and Skill Demonstration
INS Sudarshini’s passage through the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea involved navigating through heavy commercial traffic and challenging weather. Successfully completing this phase demonstrated the crew’s professional competence, confidence, and seamanship skills — key components of the training mission.
Bridges of Friendship Initiative
The port call in Safaga underlines the Indian Navy’s “Bridges of Friendship” initiative, a strategic outreach programme aimed at building long-lasting maritime ties through goodwill visits and cooperative engagements with partner nations.
India-Egypt Maritime Relations
India and Egypt share a long history of cooperation in defence, trade, culture, and security. This visit adds a new dimension to bilateral naval relations, strengthening ties in the Red Sea region — a critical artery for international trade and maritime security.
What’s Next for INS Sudarshini?
Following Safaga, INS Sudarshini will continue its Lokayan-26 expedition, visiting further international ports and participating in maritime training and cultural exchanges. This long-range mission not only advances India’s diplomatic reach but also fortifies its commitment to global maritime cooperation.
