Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR arrived at Phuket, Thailand, on 14 April 2026 after a six day transit from Malé, Maldives, marking the second port call of its ongoing mission. The IOS SAGAR?INS Sunayna deployed with a multinational crew comprising 16 Friendly Foreign Countries and reflects the edition that commenced in March 2026 under India’s chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium. The deployment advances the MAHASAGAR vision of mutual and holistic advancement for security and growth across regions.

During the port call the ship will engage in professional interactions with the Royal Thai Navy to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation and enhance mutual understanding. A programme of social, cultural and sporting engagements is planned to foster camaraderie and people to people connect. The visit aims to deepen maritime ties between participating navies and host institutions.

The ship’s stay coincides with the Songkran festival, the traditional Thai New Year, providing opportunities for cultural exchanges among the participating navies. During the transit from Malé the international crew undertook structured training activities at sea, including seamanship evolutions and operational drills to enhance collective readiness and interoperability. The deployment underscores the Indian Navy’s commitment to capacity building and contribution to regional security and stability.

IOS SAGAR was flagged off from Mumbai on 02 April 2026 by the Raksha Rajya Mantri and will call at Male, Phuket, Jakarta, Singapore, Yangon, Chittagong and Colombo as part of the mission itinerary. The Indian Navy crew together with 38 personnel from 16 Friendly Foreign Countries will participate in the port calls and associated engagements. The initiative embodies the One Ocean One Mission concept and seeks to foster deeper engagement and cooperation among maritime partners.