Indian Navy flags off INS Sudarshini on 10-month global sailing expedition ‘Lokayan 26’
New Delhi, January 20. Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command, on January 20 flagged off sail training ship INS Sudarshini from Naval Base, Kochi, marking the start of Lokayan 26, a long-range sailing expedition that will take the vessel across major maritime regions of the world.
The voyage is aimed at showcasing India’s growing maritime outreach and underlining the Indian Navy’s emphasis on professional training and excellence in ocean sailing. Senior naval officers, members of the naval community, schoolchildren, crew families and media representatives attended the flag-off ceremony, during which the Lokayan 26 plaque was unveiled.
Addressing the crew, Vice Admiral Saxena described INS Sudarshini as India’s ‘Ambassador at Large’, stressing that the expedition would go beyond oceans and borders to build bridges of friendship with partner nations. The ceremony concluded with a traditional send-off as the three-masted barque unfurled its sails to the accompaniment of the Naval band.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence, during its 10-month deployment, INS Sudarshini will cover nearly 22,000 nautical miles and visit 18 ports across 13 countries. Among the highlights of the voyage is the ship’s participation in Escale à Sète, one of Europe’s leading maritime festivals, scheduled in France during March-April 2026. The vessel will also take part in Sail 250, a major international flotilla marking the 250th anniversary of US independence, during the International Parade of Sails in New York in July 2026.
Indigenously built by Goa Shipyard Limited, INS Sudarshini is a 54-metre sail training ship equipped with 20 sails and a sail area exceeding 1,000 square metres. The ship provides a unique platform for training naval cadets and officers in traditional seamanship and navigation techniques driven by wind and sea.
As the vessel retraces ancient trade routes and navigates modern sea lanes, the Indian Navy said the expedition reflects the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and advances India’s maritime vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).
