New Delhi, August 21. INS Tamal, the latest stealth frigate, arrived at Souda Bay, Greece, on August 19, 2025 during her return passage to India post commissioning in Russia.
The engagements during the port call include a range of professional and cultural activities focused on fostering Indo-Greek bilateral relations, such as discussions with senior Hellenic Navy functionaries, familiarisation of operations and procedures at the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Centre in Souda Bay, and a walk around of NATO and Hellenic Navy facilities, culminating in a passage exercise on departure.
The ship’s crew will also pay homage to the fallen citizens of Greece and uniformed personnel including Indian soldiers who fought as part of the British Indian Army during World War II. They will also undertake cultural exchanges by way of visits to maritime museums of Crete and interaction with local diaspora to further people-to-people bonds.
The Indian and Hellenic Navies have engaged with each other on multiple fronts including training courses, passage exercises, port calls of warships and delegation-level military visits. Recently, Hellenic Navy Ship Psara, a MEKO 200 class frigate, called at Mumbai from July 11 – 13, 2025.
The visit is indicative of the importance India attaches to its relations with Greece and the endeavour to strengthen the growing defence cooperation and friendly ties between the nations. It will also provide an opportunity for both navies to share Best Practices and explore new avenues of cooperation.
