Indian Navy Multinational Mission: INS Sunayna, a Navy ship from India, started an important journey on April 5. It sailed from the Karwar naval base. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh flagged it off. Now the ship has a new name Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar. This name stands for “Security and Growth for All in the Region.”
According to The Diplomat, there are 44 naval trainees on board from nine friendly countries. These countries are Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania, reported. The crew will train together during this journey.
The Indian Navy sees itself as the “preferred security partner” in the northern part of the Indian Ocean. For many years, India has helped keep the sea routes safe. These routes are called international sea lines of communication. They carry huge amounts of goods, including oil. The Navy also works to protect the freedom of movement in these waters.
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India’s Role in Maritime Security
India’s strong role in this area started in December 2004, when a huge tsunami hit the Indian Ocean. The Indian Navy acted very fast. Its help saved many lives in countries around the ocean. This effort showed the world, especially the United States, that India could be a key partner. After that, the U.S. and India signed the Defense Framework Agreement in 2005. Then they worked more closely, leading to the India-U.S. Civil Nuclear Agreement and later India becoming a Major Defense Partner in 2016.
But now people are worried that this strong relationship is not growing much anymore. India still buys weapons from the U.S., and both countries keep training together. But not many new things are happening. One example is the slow progress with U.S. company General Electric, which is supposed to help build fighter jet engines in India.
So, the IOS Sagar journey is very important. It brings together navies from many countries in the southwest Indian Ocean. All the trainees on board are called “sea riders.” They will train together on the Indian Navy ship. They will learn and work as a team on this voyage.
Rajnath Singh said, “Along with other stakeholders, the Indian Navy is ensuring peace and prosperity in the region. Equipped with state-of-the-art ships, weapons and equipment and well-trained and motivated sailors, we resolve to move ahead with other friendly nations towards developing IOR as a symbol of brotherhood and shared interest.”
The Indian Navy always watches the waters closely. These sea routes carry about one-third of the world’s bulk cargo and even more oil exports. The Navy wants to keep the area safe for all ships.
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Indian Navy Ocean Safety Projects
In Gurgaon, far from the sea, the Navy has built a special center. It is called the Information Management and Analysis Center (IMAC). IMAC watches over fishing boats and big ships using data from satellites and other sources. It helps keep the coast and the ocean safe.
Next to IMAC, there is another group working the Information Fusion Center for the Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR). India started this center in March 2012, and it began working in November 2014. This center mostly tracks ships that carry goods, not warships.
The Indian Navy also has a separate Operations Room. It tracks Indian warships and enemy ships. IMAC and IFC-IOR share the job of keeping watch, but they do not mix military and civilian ship data. There is a clear line between the two.
IMAC uses many sources for ship data. One main source is India’s coastal radar network, which the Coast Guard controls. India also shares ship information with 36 other countries and 3 global groups through White Shipping Agreements. They send updates about all commercial ships passing through their ports.
Another system called LRIT – Long Range Identification and Tracking, also gives information. This system helps 174 countries share ship location data in real-time.
During its journey, IOS Sagar will stop at 4 places.
- Dar-es-Salaam
- Nacala
- Port Louis
- Port Victoria
The trainees will do many exercises during this trip. They will practice firefighting, damage control, Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) operations, bridge operations, engine room work, handling boats, and other training. These drills will help Indian Navy officers and their partners work better together.
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Rajnath Singh also said, “The Indian Navy ensures that no nation in the IOR suppresses another on the basis of overwhelming economy and military power.” He added, “Our aim is to develop IOR as a symbol of brotherhood and shared interest.”
The date of April 5 is special in India’s sea history. On this day in 1919, the first Indian merchant ship, SS Loyalty, left Mumbai and sailed to London. Rajnath Singh said, “It’s a proud moment to see India leading the charge for regional cooperation on the same date that we mark our maritime legacy.”
