Indian Navy News – INS Sunayna, serving as the Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR, arrived at the Port of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, on April 12, 2025, marking the first stop of its regional maritime engagement mission.
Key Highlights of IOS SAGAR’s Port Call in Dar-es-Salaam
- Historic Arrival: INS Sunayna, designated as Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR, docked at Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, on April 12, 2025, marking its first port call with 44 naval personnel from nine Indian Ocean Region nations onboard.
- AIKEYME Participation: The ship will join the harbor phase of the Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) 2025, inaugurated by Minister of State for Defence Shri Sanjay Seth, to enhance maritime interoperability.
- Regional Cooperation: The inclusion of personnel from Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and South Africa highlights India’s commitment to fostering maritime unity and security.
Having departed from Karwar, Karnataka, on April 5, the ship carries 44 naval personnel from nine Friendly Foreign Nations (FFNs) in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)—Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and South Africa—integrated as part of its crew.
#INSSunayna sailing as Indian Ocean Ship SAGAR #IOS_SAGAR, made its first port call at Dar-es-Salaam, #Tanzania on #12Apr 25.
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) April 13, 2025
RAdm AR Hassan, Chief of Tanzania Navy, accompanied by RAdm Nirbhay Bapna, ACNS (FCI), #IndianNavy, embarked IOS SAGAR & interacted with multi-national… https://t.co/tEtNrAFr5G pic.twitter.com/z0aEReMKwo
The vessel was warmly welcomed by Rear Admiral AR Hassan, Chief of the Tanzania Navy, Rear Admiral Nirbhay Bapna, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Foreign Cooperation and Intelligence), Commodore Agyapal Singh, Defence Attaché for Tanzania, and representatives from the Indian High Commission and Tanzanian People’s Defence Force (TPDF).
During its stay, INS Sunayna will participate in the harbor phase of the inaugural Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) 2025, a multilateral naval exercise set to be inaugurated on April 13 by India’s Minister of State for Defence, Shri Sanjay Seth.
The exercise, involving Indian Naval Ships INS Chennai (destroyer) and INS Kesari [Landing Ship Tank (Large)] alongside INS Sunayna, aims
- to strengthen operational coordination,
- refine joint maritime strategies, and
- enhance interoperability among participating nations.
AIKEYME underscores India’s commitment to collaborative solutions for regional maritime challenges.
The inclusion of FFN personnel onboard INS Sunayna highlights the mission’s focus on fostering global maritime cooperation. By integrating crew members from partner nations, the Indian Navy is promoting goodwill, building trust, and ensuring the safety and freedom of vital shipping lanes in the IOR.
The IOS SAGAR initiative aligns with India’s broader vision of Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions (MAHASAGAR), emphasizing collective security and regional stability.
INS Sunayna is scheduled to depart Dar-es-Salaam on April 15, 2025, for its next port call at Nacala, Mozambique, continuing its IOS SAGAR mission to strengthen maritime partnerships across the IOR.
Through such engagements, the Indian Navy reaffirms its role as a key contributor to regional security and a trusted partner in the global maritime community.