Date: 2026-03-27Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
PERSONNEL FROM 16 FRIENDLY FOREIGN COUNTRIES COMPLETE HARBOUR TRAINING AS INDIAN NAVY STRENGTHENS REGIONAL MARITIME COOPERATION THROUGH 'IOS SAGAR' INITIATIVE
**Executive Summary**
The Indian Navy successfully concluded a two-week Harbour Training Phase for personnel from 16 friendly foreign countries under the ‘IOS SAGAR’ initiative at the Southern Naval Command, Kochi. Completed on March 27, 2026, the program aimed to enhance regional maritime security and interoperability in the Indian Ocean Region. The initiative will now transition into an operational deployment phase featuring joint sea activities and regional port engagements.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Training Scope and Curriculum**
* Provided comprehensive instruction in seamanship, navigation, and communication procedures.
* Conducted practical drills in firefighting, damage control, and safety of life at sea.
* Included specialized modules for Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) operations and advanced bridgemanship.
* Focused on building both foundational and advanced naval operational competencies.
**Infrastructure and Methodology**
* Utilized state-of-the-art simulators for realistic, scenario-based learning.
* Integrated theoretical instruction with hands-on exposure to complex maritime situations.
* Delivered training under the aegis of Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) and the Indian Naval Workup Team.
* Emphasized the exchange of best practices to foster operational synergy among participating nations.
**Strategic Objectives**
* Strengthens regional cooperation under the broader 'MAHASAGAR' vision and the spirit of 'One Ocean, One Mission'.
* Addresses shared challenges including piracy, illegal fishing, trafficking, and natural disasters.
* Aims to secure sea lines of communication through enhanced coordination and shared operational understanding.
* Positions the Indian Navy as a preferred maritime training partner in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
**Impact Analysis**
**Participating Foreign Navies (16 Countries)**
**Impact**
Personnel gained advanced operational readiness, improved decision-making skills in controlled environments, and familiarization with Indian Navy procedures.
**Action Required**
Participating crews must now prepare for the transition into the operational deployment phase involving joint activities at sea.
**Indian Navy**
**Impact**
Reinforces its role as a regional leader in capacity building and strengthens diplomatic and professional ties with partner navies.
**Action Required**
The Navy must coordinate the upcoming sea training modules and port engagements to ensure seamless execution of the next phase.
**Indian Ocean Region (IOR) Stakeholders**
**Impact**
The region benefits from enhanced collective security and a more stable maritime domain, protecting vital sea lines of communication.
**Action Required**
Regional maritime entities should continue to engage in collaborative security frameworks to sustain the progress made during the initiative.
Key Entities Referenced
IOS SAGAR initiative: An Indian Navy initiative aimed at advancing regional maritime cooperation and capacity building in the Indian Ocean Region through multinational training.
MAHASAGAR: The broader strategic vision for regional maritime cooperation under which the Indian Navy conducts collaborative security endeavours.
Indian Navy: The primary executing agency responsible for training personnel from 16 friendly foreign countries to enhance maritime interoperability.
Southern Naval Command, Kochi: The specific naval command and location where the intensive Harbour Training Phase of the initiative was successfully completed.
Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST): The naval authority under whose aegis the international crews were trained in naval procedures and best practices.
Ministry of Defence
PERSONNEL FROM 16 FRIENDLY FOREIGN
COUNTRIES COMPLETE HARBOUR TRAINING
AS INDIAN NAVY STRENGTHENS REGIONAL
MARITIME COOPERATION THROUGH 'IOS
SAGAR' INITIATIVE
Posted On: 27 MAR 2026 5:03PM by PIB Delhi
Indian Navy's IOS SAGAR initiative achieved a significant milestone in advancing regional maritime
cooperation with the successful completion of an intensive Harbour Training Phase at the Southern Naval
Command, Kochi. The initiative reinforces India’s commitment to collaborative security and capacity
building in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
In an evolving maritime environment, the IOR faces a range of shared challenges, including maritime
security threats, piracy, illegal fishing, trafficking, natural disasters, and the growing need for safe and
secure sea lines of communication. Addressing these complexities requires enhanced interoperability,
shared operational understanding, and coordinated responses among regional navies.
Over a period of two weeks, the multinational crew underwent an intensive and comprehensive training
capsule across the premier professional schools of the Indian Navy. The training programme was designed
to build foundational and advanced competencies across a broad spectrum of naval operations. It included
seamanship, navigation, communication procedures, safety of life at sea, firefighting, and damage control
drills, along with specialised modules such as Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) operations and
advanced bridgemanship.
A key highlight of the training was the extensive use of state-of-the-art simulators and modern training
infrastructure, enabling realistic, scenario-based learning. These advanced facilities provided participants
with hands-on exposure to complex maritime situations, enhancing decision-making and operational
readiness in a controlled environment. The integration of theoretical instruction with practical application
ensured a holistic learning experience aligned with contemporary maritime challenges.
Training under the aegis of Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) further enabled international crew to
familiarise themselves with Indian Navy procedures and best practices. The Indian Naval Workup Team
conducted focused sea training modules aimed at fostering seamless coordination and operational synergy
among participating nations.
The IOS SAGAR initiative exemplifies the spirit of ‘One Ocean, One Mission’ with participants
demonstrating exceptional professionalism, teamwork, and camaraderie. The interactions also facilitated
meaningful exchanges of Best Practices, strengthening mutual trust and enhancing interoperability among
partner navies.Following the successful completion of the harbour phase, IOS SAGAR will now transition into the
operational deployment phase, which will include joint activities at sea and port engagements across the
region.
The initiative reaffirms the Indian Navy’s role as a preferred maritime training partner and underscores its
commitment to strengthening regional cooperation under the broader vision of MAHASAGAR. Through
such collaborative endeavours, the Indian Navy continues to build enduring partnerships and contribute to
a secure, stable, and prosperous maritime domain in the IOR.****
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