Indian Naval Sailing Ship INS Sudarshini departed Egypt’s Alexandria on Saturday after completing a port call that included cross-training with the Egyptian Navy, professional exchanges and cultural engagements.
The ship arrived at Alexandria on September 23 as part of its ongoing Lokayan 26 transoceanic expedition. The visit marked its second port call at Alexandria during the deployment.
Alexandria Naval Base Commander Rear Admiral Mohamed Abdel Aziz and representatives of the Indian Embassy received the ship on arrival.
During the port call, INS Sudarshini hosted India’s Ambassador to Egypt Suresh Reddy and local dignitaries. The engagements focused on professional interaction and strengthening ties between the Indian and Egyptian navies.
“INS Sudarshini set sail from Alexandria, Egypt, following a port call featuring cross-training with the Egyptian Navy, professional interactions and cultural engagements,” the Indian Navy said in a post on X.
“The ship hosted Ambassador Suresh Reddy and local dignitaries. The engagements fostered mutual understanding and further strengthened bonds of friendship between the two Navies,” it added.
Lokayan 26 Covers 22,000 Nautical Miles
The 10-month Lokayan 26 expedition began from Kochi on January 20. INS Sudarshini is scheduled to cover about 22,000 nautical miles and visit 18 ports across 13 countries.
Since beginning the voyage, the three-masted barque has sailed across the Arabian, Red and Mediterranean seas and transited the Suez Canal. It also participated in France’s Escale à Sète maritime festival.
The ship later completed its first Atlantic crossing, reaching Antigua on May 27 following a 19-day passage from Cape Verde. During that leg, it crossed the 10,000-nautical-mile mark from Kochi.
INS Sudarshini subsequently sailed to the Azores and Portugal before continuing its deployment.
The expedition is also designed as an extended training mission. Trainees aboard the ship have gained experience in long-range ocean navigation, sail handling, open-sea manoeuvring and traditional seamanship during the voyage.
“Lokayan 26 represents the Indian Navy’s continued commitment to professional training, maritime outreach and strengthening bonds of friendship and cooperation with partner nations. Through the deployment, INS Sudarshini has served as a floating ambassador of India’s rich seafaring heritage, carrying the message of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ and the vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) across the oceans,” the Ministry of Defence said.