INS Sagardhwani strengthens India-Malaysia maritime ties at Port Klang
Synopsis
INS Sagardhwani's return to Port Klang — six years after its last visit — is more than a routine port call. Paired with a research-and-training stop in Vietnam, the deployment maps out India's expanding naval footprint across South East Asia, using oceanographic science as a bridge to deeper defence partnerships.
Key Takeaways
INS Sagardhwani arrived at Port Klang, Malaysia , on 13 May 2025 as part of a South East Asia deployment.
The visit marks the vessel's return to Port Klang after a previous scientific deployment in 2019 .
Activities included professional interactions , training exchanges , cross-deck visits , and a Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE) with the Royal Malaysian Navy .
Prior to Malaysia, the ship visited Cam Ranh, Vietnam , from 4 to 8 May 2025 , engaging with naval and oceanographic officials.
The deployment coincides with a decade of the India-Vietnam Strategic Partnership .
Scientists from Vietnam's National Oceanographic Institute and cadets of the Naval Academy, Vietnam visited the ship during the Cam Ranh call.
INS Sagardhwani, the Indian Navy's dedicated Oceanographic Research Vessel, arrived at Port Klang, Malaysia, on 13 May 2025 as part of an ongoing South East Asia deployment, deepening the bilateral maritime partnership between India and Malaysia. The Ministry of Defence confirmed the port call on Friday, noting that personnel of the Royal Malaysian Navy extended a warm welcome to the visiting ship.
Professional Exchanges and Scientific Collaboration
During the visit, sailors and officers from both navies participated in a range of structured engagements, including professional interactions, training exchanges, cross-deck visits, and a Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE). These activities were designed to strengthen maritime cooperation, advance scientific collaboration, and improve operational interoperability between the two forces.
The Ministry of Defence underscored the significance of the call, noting that it marks INS Sagardhwani's return to Port Klang after a previous scientific deployment in 2019 — a gap of six years that makes the renewed engagement especially notable.
Broader Deployment: Vietnam Visit Preceded Malaysia Call
Prior to arriving in Malaysia, INS Sagardhwani concluded a successful port call at Cam Ranh, Vietnam, from 4 to 8 May 2025. The Commanding Officer of the vessel met with Senior Colonel Tran Van Cuong, Deputy Head of Khanh Hoa Military Command, and Senior Captain Nguyen Huu Minh, Deputy Political Commissar of Naval Region 4.
Discussions in Vietnam centred on deepening maritime engagement, training cooperation, and scientific endeavours — timed to coincide with a decade of the India-Vietnam Strategic Partnership. Scientists from Vietnam's National Oceanographic Institute also visited the ship during the call, reflecting the research-forward character of the deployment.
Naval Education and Capacity Building
As part of the professional exchange in Vietnam, the Commanding Officer also met with Senior Captain Ho Thanh Hoa, Deputy Director of the Naval Academy, Vietnam. Deliberations focused on expanding cooperation in naval training and education. Officers and cadets of the Academy visited the ship, gaining firsthand exposure to its operational role and onboard oceanographic capabilities.
According to the Indian Navy, interactions across both port calls centred on research collaboration, knowledge sharing, and capacity building in oceanographic science and technology.
Strategic Significance
The South East Asia deployment of INS Sagardhwani reflects India's broader Act East Policy and its intent to position itself as a preferred maritime partner in the Indo-Pacific. Oceanographic research vessels serve a dual purpose — advancing marine science while also reinforcing defence diplomacy. This is the second such multi-nation scientific deployment by the vessel in recent years, underscoring a pattern of sustained naval outreach across the region.
The visits to both Vietnam and Malaysia signal that India is actively building a web of maritime relationships that span scientific cooperation, training, and strategic interoperability — a template that analysts say is increasingly central to New Delhi's regional security architecture.
Point of View
Training exchanges, and scientific diplomacy — to build strategic depth without the friction of hard military posturing. The return to Port Klang after six years is not incidental; it signals a deliberate re-engagement with Malaysia at a time when regional powers are recalibrating alignments in the Indo-Pacific. What mainstream coverage tends to underplay is the cumulative effect: each SMEE session and cross-deck visit builds interoperability that matters in a crisis. India's Act East Policy is increasingly being operationalised ship by ship, port by port.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is INS Sagardhwani and why is it visiting South East Asia?
INS Sagardhwani is the Indian Navy's Oceanographic Research Vessel, deployed on a South East Asia mission to strengthen maritime cooperation, scientific collaboration, and naval interoperability with partner nations. Its current deployment includes port calls in Vietnam and Malaysia.
What activities took place during INS Sagardhwani's visit to Port Klang, Malaysia?
Personnel from the Indian Navy and the Royal Malaysian Navy engaged in professional interactions, training exchanges, cross-deck visits, and a Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE) aimed at enhancing maritime cooperation and scientific collaboration.
When did INS Sagardhwani last visit Port Klang?
INS Sagardhwani previously visited Port Klang during a scientific deployment in 2019, making the May 2025 call its first return to the Malaysian port in six years.
What happened during INS Sagardhwani's visit to Vietnam?
The vessel visited Cam Ranh, Vietnam, from 4 to 8 May 2025. The Commanding Officer met senior Vietnamese military officials, scientists from Vietnam's National Oceanographic Institute visited the ship, and discussions focused on research collaboration and naval training — timed to mark a decade of the India-Vietnam Strategic Partnership.
How does this deployment fit into India's broader foreign policy?
The South East Asia deployment reflects India's Act East Policy, which seeks to deepen strategic, economic, and defence ties with Indo-Pacific nations. Using an oceanographic research vessel allows India to advance scientific diplomacy alongside traditional naval engagement.
