Indian Navy welcomes INS Sudarshini on successful completion of Lokayan 26

Kochi: The Indian Navy accorded a ceremonial welcome to INS Sudarshini on successful completion of Lokayan 26, a ten-month transoceanic sailing expedition, as the ship returned to Kochi on 02 Nov 2026. The homecoming was marked by a water cannon salute and a ceremonial welcome by the Naval Band, as proud family members gathered to receive the crew after their extraordinary voyage spanning over 22,000 nautical miles across the oceans.

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The Flag-in Ceremony was presided over by Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command. Speaking on the occasion, FOC-in-C South commended the ship's crew for their exemplary perseverance, professionalism, resilience and devotion to duty, which brought laurels to the nation and the Indian Navy. He highlighted that the successful completion of this rare feat reflected Indian Navy's high standards of sail training, seamanship and operational preparedness, while showcasing India's maritime heritage and commitment to strengthening international maritime cooperation.

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Lokayan 26 was flagged off from Kochi on 20 Jan 26. The landmark voyage witnessed 17 distinct port calls in 11 countries, spanning Asia, Europe, Africa and North America. The deployment included two transatlantic crossings and extensive sailing passages through diverse maritime environments, providing invaluable exposure to the challenges of long-distance ocean sailing.

The major highlights of the deployment were the ship's participation in the Escale à Sète maritime heritage festival in France and SAIL 250 and the International Naval Review as part of the commemorative events in the United States. Amid challenging weather and sea conditions, the transatlantic passage, covering 2,200 nautical miles over 18 days, marked the longest distance covered exclusively under sail. This achievement underscored the crew's seamanship, endurance, coordinated teamwork and ability to navigate through demanding ocean conditions.

Lokayan 26 also provided an extensive platform for international maritime engagement. Professional interactions, training exchanges and cross-training activities with the Royal Moroccan Navy, Portuguese Navy, Italian Navy, Egyptian Navy and Spanish Navy were among the major highlights. These engagements furthered maritime cooperation and built bridges of friendship with the respective maritime forces and navies. Through various port calls, visits onboard the ship and interactions with the Indian diaspora, INS Sudarshini served as a prominent ambassador of India's maritime heritage and goodwill. The deployment reflected India's maritime vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) and the civilisational ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – the world is one family.

Beyond its diplomatic outreach, the deployment remained focused on its core objective of sail training. The ship provided young officer trainees with hands-on experience in ocean navigation, watchkeeping, sail handling, rigging, meteorological assessment and shipboard operations.

The successful completion of Lokayan 26 marked a defining milestone in India's maritime outreach and global engagement initiatives, reaffirming the Indian Navy's continued commitment to professional training and excellence in ocean sailing.

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