INS Sudarshini makes maiden Canary Islands call ahead of trans-Atlantic voyage under Lokayan 26
New Delhi, April 24. The Indian Navy’s sail training ship INS Sudarshini reached Las Palmas in Spain’s Canary Islands on April 23, marking the first-ever visit by an Indian naval vessel to the archipelago.
The port call forms part of the ship’s ongoing transoceanic deployment under the Indian Navy’s outreach mission ‘Lokayan 26’ and comes as a strategic halt before a challenging trans-Atlantic leg of the voyage.
Commissioned as a sail training ship, INS Sudarshini plays a key role in seamanship training and maritime diplomacy. Its visit to Las Palmas is expected to deepen engagement with the Spanish Navy, with the Commanding Officer slated to hold professional exchanges with Spanish naval authorities during the stay.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence here on April 24, in addition to official interactions, the ship will be opened to visitors, offering members of the local Spanish community and the Indian diaspora an opportunity to engage with the crew and learn about India’s maritime heritage. The outreach reflects the Indian Navy’s emphasis on people-to-people connections as part of its overseas deployments.
The stopover also highlights the growing maritime cooperation between the Indian Navy and Spain, set against a broader backdrop of India’s expanding naval footprint across distant waters.
INS Sudarshini sailed from Kochi in January 2026 and has since made port calls in Oman, Egypt, Malta, France and Morocco, carrying forward India’s message of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the world is one family).
From the Canary Islands, the vessel will embark on a long trans-Atlantic passage to the United States, where it is scheduled to participate in the Sail 250 commemorative events across multiple American ports as part of the United States 250th Independence Day celebrations.
