**Executive Summary**
The Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR (INS Sunayna) arrived at Phuket, Thailand, on 14 April 2026, marking the second port call of its mission across the Indian Ocean Region. This deployment, which began in March 2026 and was flagged off from Mumbai on 02 April 2026, aims to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation and maritime partnerships. The ship’s stay in Phuket includes professional interactions with the Royal Thai Navy and cultural exchanges coinciding with the Songkran festival.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Mission Vision and Leadership**
* The deployment reinforces the vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).
* The initiative embodies the "One Ocean, One Mission" concept to foster engagement among maritime partners.
* The mission highlights India’s leadership role as the current Chair of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS).
**Crew and Training**
* The ship carries a multinational crew comprising Indian Navy personnel and 38 personnel from 16 Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs).
* During transit from Malé, the crew conducted structured training at sea, including seamanship evolutions and operational drills.
* Training activities are designed to enhance collective readiness, interoperability, and maritime cooperation.
**Engagements in Phuket**
* Planned professional interactions with the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) to enhance mutual understanding and bilateral cooperation.
* Social, cultural, and sporting engagements are scheduled to foster camaraderie.
* The visit coincides with the Thai New Year (Songkran festival), providing a specific opportunity for cultural exchange.
**Mission Itinerary**
* Phuket is the second port call following a six-day transit from Malé, Maldives.
* Upcoming port calls scheduled for the mission include Jakarta, Singapore, Yangon, Chittagong, and Colombo.
**Impact Analysis**
**Royal Thai Navy (RTN)**
**Impact**
The RTN benefits from strengthened bilateral defence ties and increased mutual understanding through professional and social engagements with the Indian Navy and multinational crew.
**Action Required**
Participate in scheduled professional interactions, joint sporting events, and cultural exchanges during the ship's stay.
**Participating Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs)**
**Impact**
Personnel from 16 FFCs gain enhanced operational readiness and interoperability through sea-based drills and international maritime cooperation.
**Action Required**
Maintain active participation in structured training activities and upcoming port calls in the Indian Ocean Region.
**Indian Navy**
**Impact**
Demonstrates India’s commitment to regional security and stability while fulfilling its leadership obligations as the IONS Chair.
**Action Required**
Execute the remaining itinerary across Southeast and South Asian ports while coordinating multinational crew activities.
Key Entities Referenced
MAHASAGAR: An Indian Navy outreach initiative (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) aimed at collective maritime security and growth in the Indian Ocean Region.
Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS): A regional forum of navies from Indian Ocean littoral states, currently chaired by India, focused on enhancing maritime cooperation.
IOS SAGAR: A maritime mission involving the deployment of the ship INS Sunayna with a multinational crew to strengthen regional partnerships and security.
Indian Navy: The primary maritime branch of the Indian Armed Forces responsible for executing the mission and fostering international naval cooperation.
Ministry of Defence
IOS SAGAR SHIP ARRIVES AT PHUKET,
THAILAND
Posted On: 15 APR 2026 6:11PM by PIB Delhi
Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR arrived at Phuket, Thailand, on 14 Apr 2026 on completion of a six-
day transit from Malé, Maldives, marking the second port call of its ongoing mission.
The IOS SAGAR-INS Sunayna, with a multinational crew from 16 Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs), is
on deployment to the Indian Ocean Region, reinforcing the vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and
Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions). The current edition of IOS SAGAR,
which commenced in Mar 2026, also reflects India’s leadership role as Chair of the Indian Ocean Naval
Symposium (IONS).
During the port call at Phuket, IOS SAGAR is scheduled to engage in professional interactions with the
Royal Thai Navy (RTN), aimed at strengthening bilateral defence cooperation and enhancing mutual
understanding. A range of social, cultural and sporting engagements are also planned to foster camaraderie
and people-to-people connect.
The ship’s stay coincides with the Songkran festival, the traditional Thai New Year, providing an
opportunity for strengthening cultural exchanges amongst the participating navies.
During the transit from Malé, the international crew undertook structured training activities at
sea, including seamanship evolutions and operational drills, aimed at enhancing collective readiness,
interoperability and maritime cooperation. The deployment underscores the Indian Navy’s continued
commitment to strengthening maritime partnerships and capacity building, thereby contributing to
regional security and stability.
IOS SAGAR was flagged off from Mumbai on 02 April 2026 by Hon'ble Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri
Sanjay Seth. As part of this mission, the Indian Navy crew along with 38 personnel from 16 Friendly
Foreign Countries onboard IOS SAGAR will undertake port calls at Male, Phuket, Jakarta, Singapore,
Yangon, Chittagong and Colombo. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=2248586
The initiative embodies the vision of ‘One Ocean, One Mission’, fostering deeper engagement and
cooperation among maritime partners.__________________________________________________________________
VM/SPS 72/26
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