New Delhi, Sep 24. Indian Navy sailing vessel INS Sudarshini arrived at the Egyptian port city of Alexandria on September 23 as part of its ongoing 10-month Lokayan 26 transoceanic training expedition, marking its second visit to the historic Mediterranean port during the deployment.
The three-masted barque began its voyage from Kochi on January 20 and is scheduled to cover around 22,000 nautical miles, visiting 18 ports across 13 countries.
During the expedition, INS Sudarshini has sailed through the Arabian Sea, Red Sea and Mediterranean, including a transit of the Suez Canal. The ship also participated in the maritime festival Escale à Sète in France.
A major milestone in the deployment was INS Sudarshini’s first-ever Atlantic crossing, when the vessel reached Antigua on May 27 following a 19-day voyage from Cape Verde. During the passage, the ship crossed the 10,000-nautical-mile mark since departing Kochi.
The vessel subsequently visited the Azores and Portugal, with its arrival in Lisbon on August 22 marking its 15th port call within seven months.
The extended voyage has provided naval trainees with practical experience in long-distance ocean navigation and traditional seamanship. The Mediterranean leg has further exposed them to open-sea manoeuvring, sail handling and other aspects of operating a sailing vessel over long distances.
Upon arrival in Alexandria, INS Sudarshini was received by Rear Admiral Mohamed Abdel Aziz, Commander of Alexandria Naval Base, along with representatives of the Embassy of India.
During the port call, the Indian Navy ship is scheduled to undertake courtesy calls, cross-deck visits and professional interactions with personnel of the Egyptian Navy. The engagements are aimed at facilitating professional exchanges and further strengthening maritime ties between India and Egypt.
The Lokayan 26 deployment is part of the Indian Navy’s efforts to enhance professional training, maritime outreach and cooperation with partner countries.
Through the expedition, INS Sudarshini is also showcasing India’s maritime heritage and promoting the principles of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and the MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision.
