Indian Navy’s sail training ship INS Sudarshini departed from Livorno, Italy, after a successful port call aimed at strengthening India–Italy maritime cooperation and professional ties between the two navies.
Key Highlights
- High-Level Visit: Admiral Giuseppe Berutti Bergotto, Chief of the Italian Navy, visited INS Sudarshini and interacted with its crew and naval trainees.
- Cross-Training Exchanges: Indian naval trainees visited the Italian Navy frigate ITS Virginio Fasan and the Italian Naval Academy, while Italian naval personnel visited INS Sudarshini. These activities promoted professional cooperation, knowledge-sharing and mutual understanding.
- Local Engagements: INS Sudarshini’s Commanding Officer Commander Ravikanth Nandoori met Rear Admiral Alberto Tarabotto, Livorno Mayor Luca Salvetti and Vice Prefect Edoardo Lombardi.
- Voyage: The port call forms part of Lokayan 2026, INS Sudarshini’s transoceanic sail-training voyage.
Lokayan 2026
Lokayan 2026 is a 10-month, 22,000-nautical-mile global expedition by INS Sudarshini.
| Feature | Details |
| Flagged off | 20 January 2026, Kochi |
| Duration | 10 months |
| Distance | 22,000 nautical miles |
| International coverage | 18 foreign ports across 13 countries |
| Training | 200+ Indian Navy and Coast Guard trainees |
The expedition provides hands-on experience in traditional seamanship and long-range navigation, while showcasing India’s maritime heritage and building international goodwill.
Major engagements include Escale à Sète in France and SAIL 250/Sail4th 250 celebrations in New York. Other ports visited include Alexandria, Ponta Delgada, Boston, Barcelona and Livorno.
MAHASAGAR: India’s Expanded Maritime Vision
MAHASAGAR stands for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions. PM Narendra Modi announced this expanded global maritime vision in March 2025.
It builds upon the 2015 SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) policy. While SAGAR primarily focused on the Indian Ocean Region, MAHASAGAR adopts a broader approach covering the Indo-Pacific and Global South.
Its major pillars include:
- Trade for Development: Economic integration, secure supply chains and a sustainable blue economy.
- Capacity Building for Sustainable Growth: Support to partner countries through digital connectivity, development finance, training, hydrographic surveys and infrastructure grants.
- Mutual Security for Shared Future: Greater maritime security cooperation, enhanced Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) through shared assets such as radar systems, and India’s role as a trusted first responder during regional crises.