 SAGAR, made its first port call at Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, on April 12, 2025. The ship had departed from Karwar, Karnataka){kind=link}
APRIL 13: INS Sunayna, designated as the Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR, made its first port call at Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, on April 12, 2025. The ship had departed from Karwar, Karnataka, on April 5 with 44 naval personnel from nine Friendly Foreign Nations (FFNs) of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The FFNs include Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and South Africa, highlighting the strong naval collaboration between these nations.
Upon arrival, the ship received a warm welcome at the Port of Dar-es-Salaam, where key dignitaries from both Tanzania and India were present. The welcoming ceremony included RAdm AR Hassan, Chief of the Tanzania Navy; Rear Admiral Nirbhay Bapna, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Foreign Cooperation and International Relations) of the Indian Navy; and Commodore Agyapal Singh, Defence Attaché for Tanzania. The event was also attended by representatives from the Indian High Commission and the Tanzania People Defence Force.
During its stay in Tanzania, INS Sunayna is participating in the harbour phase of Exercise AIKEYME, a crucial naval exercise aimed at enhancing operational coordination, refining joint strategies, and improving interoperability between naval forces in the region. The exercise, which will be officially inaugurated on April 13 by Hon’ble Minister of State for Defence Shri Sanjay Seth, will feature two other Indian Navy ships: INS Chennai (a destroyer) and INS Kesari (a Landing Ship Tank). This exercise is a step forward in strengthening maritime security and collaboration in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
The inclusion of personnel from the FFNs onboard INS Sunayna underscores the importance of these engagements in fostering global maritime cooperation. These joint efforts reflect India’s commitment to advancing collective maritime security, promoting goodwill, and ensuring the free and safe movement of shipping lanes across the region. This participation also highlights the importance of collaboration between India and the nations of the Indian Ocean Region in promoting peace and stability in maritime operations.
INS Sunayna will depart Dar-es-Salaam on April 15, 2025, for its next port of call at Nacala, Mozambique, as part of the ongoing IOS SAGAR mission, continuing its focus on maritime cooperation, security, and strengthening ties among nations in the Indian Ocean region.