INS Sudarshini Marks First Lokayan-26 Port Call at Salalah, Strengthening India–Oman Maritime Ties

The Indian Navy’s sail training ship INS Sudarshini has completed its first port call under the ten-month transoceanic voyage Lokayan-26 at Salalah, Oman, marking a key milestone in India’s maritime outreach to the Gulf region. The visit, which concluded on 5 February 2026, is aimed at showcasing India’s maritime heritage and reinforcing the ethos of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (The World is One Family) through naval diplomacy and youth outreach.

During the Salalah stopover, the Commanding Officer of INS Sudarshini held interactions with Captain Mohammad Al Ghailani, Southern Naval Area Commander of the Royal Navy of Oman, and Captain Mohammad Al Mahari, Commanding Officer of RNO vessel Al Moazer, underscoring longstanding seafaring and cultural links between India and Oman. The ship hosted Royal Navy of Oman officers and local visitors on board for guided tours, professional exchanges and cultural events designed to strengthen operational familiarity and people-to-people ties between the two navies.

INS Sudarshini had sailed from Naval Base Kochi on 20 January 2026 for Lokayan-26, a ten-month voyage that will include port calls across multiple regions to promote maritime cooperation, training and partnership. The Defence Ministry said the ship’s engagements along the route will focus on joint training activities, sail training exposure, and maritime partnership exercises with host navies, positioning the voyage as a platform for cultural diplomacy and naval soft power.

According to official statements, the Oman leg of Lokayan-26 reinforced “Bridges of Friendship” between India and Oman, highlighting their converging interests in maritime security, trade lanes and capacity building in the Western Indian Ocean. As Lokayan-26 progresses, INS Sudarshini is expected to carry this narrative forward at subsequent ports, projecting India’s maritime professionalism and goodwill while engaging with regional partners on shared seafaring traditions and contemporary naval cooperation.