On February 21, 2026, the Indian Navy's Sail Training Ship INS Sudarshini arrived in Safaga, Egypt, as part of the ongoing Lokayan-26 deployment. The ship covered 1,832 nautical miles in 16 days from Salalah to Safaga. Officials from the Egyptian Navy and the Indian Embassy welcomed the ship. The Commanding Officer of INS Sudarshini met with Rear Admiral Ramy Ahmed Ismail Mohamed, Base Commander Red Sea and Safaga Naval Base. During the port stay, the Indian Navy will engage in professional interactions with Egyptian naval personnel, share best practices in sail training, and undertake community outreach activities. The visit underscores the strong ties between India and Egypt and the Indian Navy's commitment to maritime outreach under the "Bridges of Friendship" initiative. This release was posted by PIB Delhi on February 23, 2026, at 1:48 PM.
Key Entities Referenced
INS Sudarshini: Indian Navy's Sail Training Ship, central to the Lokayan-26 deployment.
Lokayan-26: The ongoing deployment in which INS Sudarshini participated.
Safaga, Egypt: The port where INS Sudarshini made a historic port call during Lokayan-26.
Ministry of Defence: The issuing ministry for the press release.
Bridges of Friendship: The initiative under which the Indian Navy is conducting maritime outreach.
Ministry of Defence
INS SUDARSHINI MARKS HISTORIC PORT CALL
AT SAFAGA, EGYPT DURING LOKAYAN-26
Posted On: 23 FEB 2026 1:48PM by PIB Delhi
Indian Navy’s Sail Training Ship INS Sudarshini arrived at Safaga, Egypt on 21 Feb 2026 as part of her
ongoing Lokayan-26 deployment. Covering a distance of 1,832 nautical miles in 16 days, the passage
from Salalah to Safaga marks a significant milestone, highlighting the resilience, confidence, and
endurance of the ship’s crew.
On arrival, the ship was warmly received by officials of the Egyptian Navy and representatives from the
Indian Embassy. The Commanding Officer, INS Sudarshini, called on Rear Admiral Ramy Ahmed
Ismail Mohamed, Base Commander Red Sea and Safaga Naval Base. The interactions emphasised
growing maritime partnership between the two navies, reflecting a shared vision of enhanced naval
cooperation and interoperability. During the port stay, the Indian Navy will engage in professional
interactions with Egyptian naval personnel, share best practices in sail training, and undertake community
outreach activities aimed at strengthening bilateral goodwill.
Transit through the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea constituted a key operational phase as the ship steered
through challenging weather conditions and dense shipping traffic, demonstrating a high degree of
professional competence and seamanship skills. The visit of INS Sudarshini to Safaga reaffirms the Indian
Navy’s continued commitment to maritime outreach under the “Bridges of Friendship” initiative and
underscores the strong and enduring ties between India and Egypt._____________________________________________________________
VM/SKY
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