The Indian Navy’s sail training ship INS Sudarshini on Tuesday embarked on a ten-month transoceanic expedition, Lokayan 26, marking a landmark global voyage aimed at showcasing India’s rich seafaring heritage and strengthening maritime cooperation across nations.
The expedition was flagged off from Naval Base Kochi by Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command. The voyage underscores India’s growing maritime outreach and the Navy’s commitment to professional sailing training and oceanic excellence.
The flag-off ceremony was attended by senior naval officers, members of the naval community, schoolchildren, families of the crew and media representatives. A commemorative Lokayan 26 plaque was unveiled on the occasion. Interacting with the crew, the Vice Admiral described INS Sudarshini as India’s “Ambassador at Large”, emphasising that the voyage would help build bridges of friendship and trust across oceans and continents. The ceremony concluded with a traditional send-off as the three-masted barque unfurled her sails to the accompaniment of the Naval Band.
During the ten-month deployment, INS Sudarshini will sail nearly 22,000 nautical miles, visiting 18 ports across 13 countries. A key highlight of the expedition will be the ship’s participation in Escale à Sète, one of Europe’s premier maritime festivals, to be held in France in March–April 2026. Making her debut at the festival, INS Sudarshini will represent India alongside renowned tall ships from across the world.
The vessel will also take part in Sail 250, an international flotilla organised in New York in July 2026 as part of the 250th anniversary celebrations of the United States’ Independence, participating in the International Parade of Sails.
Built indigenously by Goa Shipyard Limited, INS Sudarshini is a 54-metre sail training ship equipped with 20 sails spanning a sail area of over 1,000 square metres. The vessel serves as a unique platform for training sea cadets and officer trainees in the traditional skills of seamanship and wind-based navigation.
As the ship sails along ancient trade routes and modern sea lanes, the expedition embodies India’s maritime ethos guided by the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – One Earth, One Family, One Future. The voyage also advances the vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions), reinforcing India’s commitment to cooperation, trust and shared prosperity across the global maritime domain.
