The vessel carries officers and sailors from 16 countries, including Sri Lanka, as part of the Indian Navy’s regional maritime cooperation initiative titled “Bridges of Friendship.”
During the port call, the Commanding Officer of IOS Sagar is expected to hold discussions with senior Sri Lanka Navy officials, including the Commander Western Naval Area and the Flag Officer Commanding Naval Fleet.
The visiting crew will also participate in professional exchanges and sports activities with Sri Lanka Navy personnel, while touring several locations of interest in the country.
The IOS Sagar deployment began from Mumbai on April 2 following specialised harbour training for multinational naval personnel from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, Singapore, Seychelles, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste and the UAE.
Training conducted at Indian Naval establishments included navigation, seamanship, communication procedures, firefighting, damage control and advanced maritime operations such as Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS).
The deployment is aimed at enhancing regional maritime cooperation and strengthening partnerships among Indian Ocean nations under the “One Ocean, One Mission” initiative.
