Kochi, Jan 19 (NationPress) INS Sagardhwani, India's oceanographic research vessel, has been launched for the fifth edition of the Sagar Maitri (SM-5) initiative from the Southern Naval Command in Kochi, as confirmed by an official on Sunday.

This initiative aims to foster long-lasting scientific partnerships with eight nations in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), including Oman, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Myanmar.

Following the flag-off on Saturday, the vessel will navigate the historical paths of INS Kistna, which took part in the International Indian Ocean Expedition from 1962 to 1965.

The current mission marks the beginning of cooperative oceanographic studies with the Maldives, facilitating joint research and professional collaboration among scientists from IOR countries.

The vessel was ceremoniously launched by Radha Mohan Singh, Member of Parliament and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence, alongside other distinguished members, including Samir V Kamat, Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO; Admiral Upal Kundu, Chief of Staff of the Southern Naval Command; R.V. Hara Prasad, Director General of Naval Systems & Materials; and Duvvuri Seshagiri, Director of NPOL, along with senior officials from the Indian Navy and DRDO.

Sagar Maitri is a pivotal part of DRDO's strategy to enhance Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA) for the Indian Navy.

During these missions, valuable oceanographic and acoustic data will be gathered along designated observational routes by the INS Sagardhwani, aligned with scientific objectives pertinent to UDA.

INS Sagardhwani is a specialized marine acoustic research vessel crafted by NPOL and constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE).

Since its commissioning in July 1994, the ship has served as an essential platform for ocean observations and marine research for over three decades, significantly enhancing India's maritime scientific abilities.

Sagar Maitri stands as a flagship collaborative effort between the Indian Navy and DRDO, embodying the Indian government's vision of 'Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions (MAHASAGAR)'.

This initiative aims to boost cooperation in socio-economic aspects and foster greater scientific interaction, especially in ocean research, among IOR countries.

The Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) in Kochi has been conducting oceanographic missions under the Sagar Maitri program to enhance scientific collaboration and capacity building among IOR nations.

As part of this program, DRDO has launched a scientific component known as 'MAITRI (Marine & Allied Interdisciplinary Training and Research Initiative)' to establish enduring partnerships with IOR countries in ocean research and development.