ICGS Shaunak holds QUAD maritime drills with Australian Border Force in Fremantle
Synopsis
ICGS Shaunak's port call in Fremantle isn't just a goodwill visit — it's a live demonstration of QUAD maritime architecture in action. With India, Australia, Japan and the US conducting onboard exchanges and operational drills, this mission signals that QUAD is moving from summit communiqués to real-world interoperability at sea.
Key Takeaways
ICGS Shaunak conducted training exercises and expert exchanges with the Australian Border Force (ABF) at Fremantle, Western Australia .
The vessel sailed from Chennai on 25 September 2026 and arrived in Fremantle on 7 October 2026 .
The visit is part of the QUAD-atSea Ship Observer Mission involving India, Australia, Japan, and the United States .
A reception onboard was hosted by Consul General Kajari Biswas and Inspector General Ajay Chaturvedi , with over 125 crew members present.
ICGS Shaunak is a Made-in-India vessel equipped with an indigenous CRN 91 Gun Mount , integrated bridge and power management systems, and helicopter operations capability.
Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Shaunak conducted a series of training exercises and subject matter expert exchanges with the Australian Border Force (ABF) during its port call at Fremantle, Western Australia, as part of the QUAD-atSea Ship Observer Mission. The visit, which saw the vessel arrive on 7 October 2026, marks a concrete step in deepening maritime interoperability among the four QUAD nations — India, Australia, Japan, and the United States.
Key Developments
The Consulate General of India in Perth, in a post on X on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, stated that the engagements were designed to facilitate the exchange of professional expertise, foster mutual understanding of operational practices, and strengthen cooperation and interoperability among the participating maritime agencies. ICGS Shaunak sailed from Chennai on 25 September 2026, covering a significant distance to reach Fremantle for this multilateral mission.
High-Level Reception Onboard
India Consul General to Perth Kajari Biswas and Inspector General Ajay Chaturvedi, Commanding Officer of ICGS Shaunak, along with the ship's crew of over 125 sea riders, hosted a reception onboard the vessel. The occasion drew several dignitaries, including Australian leaders Yaz Mubarakai and Hugh Trevor Jones, Fremantle Mayor Ben Lawver, Deputy Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Natasha Hart, senior naval official Captain William 'Cam' Hooper, Consul General of India in Melbourne Anish Rajan, US Consul General Colleen Altstock, Japan's Deputy Consul General Hasegawa, and President of the Indian Society of Western Australia (ISWA) Divya Sharma, alongside defence veterans.
About the QUAD-atSea Mission
The QUAD-atSea Ship Observer Mission is a multilateral framework designed to enhance maritime interoperability and foster professional exchanges among the maritime agencies of India, Australia, Japan, and the United States. Participation in shipboard activities and professional exchanges provides opportunities to share operational knowledge, strengthen coordination, and build mutual trust among QUAD partners, according to the Indian mission. This comes amid broader QUAD efforts to assert a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific, making such operational exercises increasingly strategic in significance.
Capabilities of ICGS Shaunak
A Made in India vessel, ICGS Shaunak is fitted with sophisticated systems including an Integrated Bridge System (IBS), Integrated Machinery Control System (IMCS), Integrated Power Management System (IPMS), and a High Power External Fire Fighting System (ABS Fi-Fi Class-1). The ship also carries an indigenous CRN 91 Gun Mount with a Fire Control System capable of both anti-ship and anti-aircraft operations. It is designed to operate single-engine as well as twin-engine lightweight helicopters, reflecting its versatility as a frontline coast guard platform.
Strategic Significance
Notably, this is one of the most visible operational demonstrations of QUAD maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific in recent months. The exercise underscores India's push to project naval presence beyond traditional regional boundaries and deepen interoperability with like-minded partners. With QUAD nations increasingly aligning on maritime domain awareness and blue-water capabilities, exchanges such as this serve as building blocks for a more coordinated Indo-Pacific security architecture. Further QUAD-atSea engagements are expected as part of the broader mission itinerary.
Point of View
It is operational exercises like this — coast guard to border force, crew to crew — that actually build the interoperability the alliance promises. India's decision to deploy a Made-in-India vessel for this mission also carries a quiet message about indigenous defence capability. The real question is whether these exchanges translate into a shared maritime domain awareness architecture; without that data layer, the goodwill remains tactical rather than strategic.
NationPress
14 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the QUAD-atSea Ship Observer Mission?
The QUAD-atSea Ship Observer Mission is a multilateral maritime exercise involving the naval and coast guard agencies of India, Australia, Japan, and the United States, aimed at enhancing interoperability and fostering professional exchanges. It is part of broader QUAD efforts to build a coordinated maritime presence in the Indo-Pacific.
Where did ICGS Shaunak conduct its exercises with Australia?
ICGS Shaunak conducted training activities and expert exchanges with the Australian Border Force at the Port of Fremantle in Perth, Western Australia, arriving on 7 October 2026 after sailing from Chennai on 25 September 2026.
What are the key capabilities of ICGS Shaunak?
ICGS Shaunak is a Made-in-India coast guard vessel equipped with an Integrated Bridge System, Integrated Machinery Control System, Integrated Power Management System, a High Power External Fire Fighting System, and an indigenous CRN 91 Gun Mount with anti-ship and anti-aircraft capabilities. It can also operate single-engine and twin-engine lightweight helicopters.
Who attended the reception onboard ICGS Shaunak in Fremantle?
The reception was hosted by Consul General Kajari Biswas and Commanding Officer Inspector General Ajay Chaturvedi. Attendees included Fremantle Mayor Ben Lawver, Australian leaders, the US Consul General Colleen Altstock, Japan's Deputy Consul General Hasegawa, and the President of the Indian Society of Western Australia, among others.
Why does the ICGS Shaunak's Fremantle visit matter for India-Australia relations?
The visit represents a tangible deepening of India-Australia maritime cooperation under the QUAD framework, moving beyond diplomatic statements to operational-level drills and expert exchanges. It signals growing alignment on Indo-Pacific security priorities among the four QUAD partners.
