Indian Naval Ship Sunayna, designated IOS SAGAR for the mission, arrived at Port Louis Harbour today after completing Phase I of Joint Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surveillance with Mauritius’s National Coast Guard (NCG). The visit marks a major milestone in India’s commitment to bolstering regional maritime security and fostering capacity-building partnerships with friendly foreign nations.
Sunayna, which set sail from Karwar on April 5, is currently hosting 44 naval personnel from nine Indian Ocean Region (IOR) nations, including two officers and six sailors from Mauritius itself. This multinational deployment underscores the Indian Navy’s ongoing efforts to enhance interoperability, promote mutual learning, and strengthen collective maritime growth.
The ship and her crew received a warm and enthusiastic welcome at Port Louis, reflecting the close, longstanding ties between India and Mauritius. Over the two-day port call, the Commanding Officer of Sunayna will hold courtesy calls with the Commandant of the National Coast Guard, the Commissioner of Police, and the High Commissioner of India, according to the Indian Navy’s statement.
A series of activities have been scheduled during the visit, including tours by the crew to the Maritime Air Squadron, Special Mobile Force Squadron, and Police Helicopter Squadron. The Commissioner of Police will also interact with the multinational crew at Police Headquarters. In addition, Sunayna will be open to visitors on April 27, and events such as trekking expeditions, a joint yoga session, and friendly sports fixtures have been planned to deepen camaraderie.
Following the Mauritius stopover, Sunayna will embark on Phase II of the joint EEZ surveillance with NCG Mauritius before proceeding to Port Victoria, Seychelles.
INS Sunayna is a Saryu-class Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel (NOPV) equipped for anti-piracy missions, maritime surveillance, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations. Fitted with advanced gunnery systems, electronic warfare suites, and missile defence measures, the ship’s operational capabilities are further enhanced by an onboard helicopter, the statement stated.
The deployment reflects India’s steadfast approach towards ensuring security and stability in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) through collaboration, capacity-building, and regional engagement.
Team BharatShakti
