INS Sudarshini reaches Alexandria on Lokayan 26 return leg, deepening India-Egypt naval ties
Synopsis
INS Sudarshini's second stop in Alexandria is not routine port diplomacy — it is the latest chapter in a historic 10-month, 22,000-nautical-mile odyssey that includes India's first-ever Atlantic crossing by a sail training ship. With trainees gaining blue-water experience across 13 countries, Lokayan 26 is quietly reshaping how the Indian Navy projects soft power across the Indo-Mediterranean corridor.
Key Takeaways
INS Sudarshini arrived at Alexandria, Egypt on 24 September 2026 for its second port call during the Lokayan 26 return leg.
The ship was received by Rear Admiral Mohamed Abdel Aziz , Commander of the Alexandria Naval Base , and Indian Embassy representatives.
The 10-month expedition commenced from Kochi on 20 January 2026 , covering approximately 22,000 nautical miles across 18 ports in 13 countries .
INS Sudarshini completed the historic first Atlantic crossing for the ship, arriving at Antigua on 27 May after a 19-day passage from Cape Verde.
The vessel reached its 15th port visit at Lisbon on 22 August , seven months into the voyage.
The mission carries India's MAHASAGAR and Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam vision across the global oceans.
The Indian Navy's Sail Training Ship INS Sudarshini arrived at the port of Alexandria, Egypt, on 24 September 2026 for a second port call during the return leg of the Lokayan 26 transoceanic expedition, the Ministry of Defence confirmed on Thursday. The visit marks another milestone in the 10-month, 22,000-nautical-mile voyage that began in Kochi on 20 January 2026.
Arrival and Reception at Alexandria
On docking at Alexandria Naval Base, INS Sudarshini was received by Rear Admiral Mohamed Abdel Aziz, Commander of the Alexandria Naval Base, along with representatives of the Embassy of India. The port call is scheduled to include courtesy calls, cross-deck visits, and professional interactions with the Egyptian Navy, offering avenues for bilateral maritime exchange and reinforcing the growing naval relationship between India and Egypt.
Lokayan 26: The Voyage So Far
The three-masted barque set sail from Kochi on 20 January 2026, with an itinerary covering approximately 22,000 nautical miles across 18 ports in 13 countries. Since departure, INS Sudarshini has traversed the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea, and the Mediterranean, completed a transit of the Suez Canal, and participated in the prestigious Escale à Sète maritime festival in France.
Notably, the ship accomplished the historic first Atlantic crossing by INS Sudarshini, arriving at Antigua on 27 May after a 19-day passage from Cape Verde. During this passage, the vessel crossed the landmark of 10,000 nautical miles since leaving Kochi. The ship subsequently called at the Azores and Portugal, with its arrival at Lisbon on 22 August marking its 15th port visit in seven months.
Training and Professional Development
According to the Ministry of Defence, the ongoing voyage has given trainees extensive exposure to long-range ocean navigation and traditional seamanship. The Mediterranean passage has provided further hands-on experience in open-sea manoeuvring, sail handling, and blue-water navigation — skills that are central to the expedition's objectives.
Broader Strategic Significance
Lokayan 26 reflects the Indian Navy's sustained commitment to professional training, maritime outreach, and strengthening cooperative ties with partner nations. Throughout the deployment, INS Sudarshini has functioned as a floating ambassador of India's seafaring heritage, carrying the message of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (The World is One Family) and the vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) across the world's oceans. The Alexandria stop — the second during this expedition — underscores the deepening maritime partnership between New Delhi and Cairo at a time of growing strategic convergence in the Indo-Mediterranean corridor.
INS Sudarshini is expected to continue its return journey toward India following the conclusion of port activities in Egypt.
Point of View
Visits 13 countries, and makes a second call at an Egyptian naval base is not merely a training run — it is deliberate maritime statecraft. India's MAHASAGAR doctrine needs visible presence to mean anything, and INS Sudarshini is doing precisely that work in the Indo-Mediterranean corridor. The question worth asking is whether one ship and one expedition is enough to sustain the ambition, or whether the Navy needs a dedicated multi-vessel training and outreach fleet to match the scale of the doctrine it is promoting.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is INS Sudarshini and why is it in Egypt?
INS Sudarshini is the Indian Navy's three-masted barque Sail Training Ship currently on the Lokayan 26 transoceanic expedition. It arrived at Alexandria, Egypt on 24 September 2026 for a second port call during the return leg of the voyage, facilitating naval exchanges and strengthening India-Egypt maritime ties.
What milestones has INS Sudarshini achieved during Lokayan 26?
The ship achieved the historic first Atlantic crossing by INS Sudarshini, arriving at Antigua on 27 May 2026 after a 19-day passage from Cape Verde. It also crossed the 10,000 nautical mile mark during the Atlantic passage and completed its 15th port visit at Lisbon on 22 August 2026.
Who received INS Sudarshini at Alexandria?
INS Sudarshini was received at the Alexandria Naval Base by Rear Admiral Mohamed Abdel Aziz, Commander of the Alexandria Naval Base, along with representatives of the Embassy of India.
What is the significance of the MAHASAGAR vision carried by INS Sudarshini?
MAHASAGAR stands for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions, reflecting India's strategic maritime outreach doctrine. Through Lokayan 26, INS Sudarshini serves as a floating ambassador of this vision alongside the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, projecting India's soft power and deepening naval partnerships across the Indo-Pacific and Mediterranean.
