New Delhi: Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR – the truly international vessel – with 44 naval personnel from India’s nine friendly foreign nations in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) made Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania its first port of call on Saturday.
IOS SAGAR is actually INS Sunanyna, the second Saryu-class patrol vessel of the Indian Navy. SAGAR is an acronym from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Security and Growth for All in the Region initiative. Never has an Indian naval ship sailed with 44 foreigners as part of the crew.
The 44 include naval personnel from Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and South Africa. They received advanced training in India over several weeks before boarding the ship and learning about its operations.
“The Indian Navy, with its reach, has always played a major role in the country’s diplomacy. Even this mission is a part of strengthening bridges with foreign friendly nations. This comes at a time when our Prime Minister and external affairs minister S Jaishankar has been highlighting the importance of a Global South,” a senior Indian Navy official said.
IOS SAGAR sailed from Karwar, Goa on April 5, 2025. At Dar-es-Salaam, she was accorded a warm welcome by Rear Admiral A R Hassan, chief of the Tanzania Navy, Rear Admiral Nirbhay Bapna, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff, Foreign Cooperation and Intelligence, Indian Navy and Commodore Agyapal Singh, Defence Attaché for Tanzania, alongside dignitaries from the Indian High Commission and the Tanzania People Defence Force.
During this port call, the ship will also participate in the harbour phase of Exercise AIKEYME, a key naval exercise which will be inaugurated by Indian minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth. The exercise will focus on enhancing operational coordination, refining joint strategies and improving interoperability in maritime operations. Two of the Indian Navy ships, the destroyer INS Chennai and INS Kesari, a Landing Ship Tank (Large), will also be participating in the exercise alongside INS Sunayna.
“The participation of personnel from friendly foreign nations onboard INS Sunayna further underscores the significance of this initiative in promoting global maritime cooperation. Through such exercises and engagements, the Indian Navy remains committed to advancing collective maritime security, fostering goodwill and ensuring the free and safe movement of shipping lanes in the region,” the official said.
IOS SAGAR will depart Dar-es-Salaam on April 15 for the next port of call, which is Nacala, in Mozambique.
