Indian Navy's First Training Squadron wraps Seychelles port call with PASSEX drills
Synopsis
The Indian Navy's First Training Squadron wrapped a five-day port call at Seychelles' Port Victoria, conducting joint naval drills, firefighting training for local defence forces, community outreach, and high-level meetings with the Seychelles Chief of Defence — the latest move in India's deepening Indian Ocean island-nation strategy under the MAHASAGAR framework.
Key Takeaways
INS Tir , INS Sujata , and ICGS Sarathi departed Port Victoria on Thursday after a port call from Monday to Thursday .
The squadron conducted a PASSEX with Seychelles Coast Guard ship Andromache , featuring joint patrolling, communication drills, and coordinated manoeuvres.
Senior officers called on Major General Michael Rosette , Chief of Defence Forces, Seychelles Defence Force .
Activities included firefighting and small-arms training for SDF personnel, a medical camp , and outreach at the Point La Rue elderly home .
In August , India had handed over 3 repaired Dornier MEUs and 18 sets of calibrated aircraft tools to Seychelles free of cost.
The deployment aligns with India's MAHASAGAR vision for regional maritime security and capacity building.
Ships of the Indian Navy's First Training Squadron (1TS) concluded a port call at Port Victoria, Seychelles, conducting a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with Seychelles Coast Guard ship Andromache as part of an ongoing training deployment, the Ministry of Defence confirmed on Saturday, 17 October 2026. The visit reinforced bilateral maritime ties under India's expanding Indian Ocean outreach.
Ships and Departure
INS Tir, INS Sujata, and Indian Coast Guard Ship Sarathi departed Port Victoria on Thursday after a port call that commenced on Monday. The three vessels are part of an ongoing training deployment by the First Training Squadron. The PASSEX with Andromache featured joint patrolling, communication drills, and coordinated manoeuvres, according to the Indian Navy.
High-Level Engagements
The Senior Officer of 1TS, along with the Commanding Officers of the visiting ships, called on Chief of Defence Forces of the Seychelles Defence Force (SDF), Major General Michael Rosette. Discussions focused on the enduring partnership and bilateral cooperation between the two forces. The Ministry of Defence said the engagement 'reinforced the longstanding India-Seychelles partnership through professional training, capacity building, and interactions with the country's leadership and maritime community.'
Training and Outreach Activities
The port call included cross-training visits and professional activities such as firefighting and small-arms training for Seychelles Defence Force personnel. Community outreach formed a significant part of the visit: a medical camp was organised, essential supplies were distributed at the Point La Rue elderly home, schoolchildren visited the ships, and the Indian Navy Band delivered a musical performance.
Broader Defence Cooperation
The Seychelles deployment builds on recent capacity-building steps. In August, India handed over three repaired Dornier Main Electronic Units (MEUs), 18 sets of calibrated specialised aircraft tools, 50 safety helmets, and seamanship ropes to Major General Rosette. The transfer was handled by Defence Adviser Captain Shravan Sareen and was carried out at Indian Naval facilities free of cost. According to the High Commission of India in Victoria, the items will enable in-house testing and faster repairs for the Dornier fleet used by the Seychelles Air Force for Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surveillance, casualty evacuation (CASEVAC), and search-and-rescue (SAR) operations.
MAHASAGAR and India's Indian Ocean Vision
The Ministry of Defence noted that the deployment 'underscores the strong bonds of friendship between India and Seychelles and reflects the Indian Navy's commitment to capacity building and regional partnerships in line with the vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).' This is the latest in a series of Indian Navy training deployments to the western Indian Ocean, reflecting New Delhi's strategy of deepening ties with island-nation partners amid growing great-power competition in the region.
Point of View
Capacity-building image that contrasts with China's infrastructure-heavy Indian Ocean presence. The MAHASAGAR framework gives these visits doctrinal coherence, but the real metric is whether Seychelles — a surveillance chokepoint for western Indian Ocean maritime traffic — deepens intelligence-sharing and basing access arrangements with India. The August handover of repaired Dornier units matters more than the band performance: keeping the Seychelles Air Force's EEZ surveillance fleet operational is a quiet force-multiplier for Indian maritime domain awareness.
NationPress
17 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Indian Navy ships were part of the Seychelles port call?
The port call involved three vessels: INS Tir , INS Sujata , and Indian Coast Guard Ship Sarathi , all part of the Indian Navy's First Training Squadron (1TS) . They departed Port Victoria on Thursday after a visit that began on Monday.
What is a PASSEX exercise?
A Passage Exercise (PASSEX) is a joint naval drill conducted when ships of two navies are in proximity, typically covering coordinated manoeuvres, communication drills, and joint patrolling. In this case, the Indian vessels conducted a PASSEX with Seychelles Coast Guard ship Andromache .
What is the MAHASAGAR framework mentioned by India's Ministry of Defence?
MAHASAGAR stands for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions — India's strategic vision for building cooperative maritime partnerships across the Indian Ocean region. The framework guides the Indian Navy's training deployments, capacity-building efforts, and bilateral engagement with littoral and island nations.
What defence equipment did India hand over to Seychelles recently?
In August, India handed over three repaired Dornier Main Electronic Units (MEUs), 18 sets of calibrated specialised aircraft tools, 50 safety helmets, and seamanship ropes to Seychelles. The repairs and calibrations were carried out at Indian Naval facilities free of cost to support the Seychelles Air Force's EEZ surveillance and search-and-rescue operations.
Why does India maintain close maritime ties with Seychelles?
Seychelles occupies a strategically significant position in the western Indian Ocean, with its EEZ covering a large stretch of critical maritime routes. India's engagement focuses on capacity building — training, equipment, and joint exercises — to strengthen Seychelles' maritime domain awareness and reinforce a partnership that supports regional stability and India's own Indian Ocean security interests.
