INS Sudarshini departs Oman's Salalah, presses on with Lokayan-2026 voyage
Synopsis
Ten months into a 22,000-nautical-mile circumnavigation, INS Sudarshini has left Salalah after hosting 500-plus Indian diaspora members and engaging with Oman's navy — a quiet but pointed demonstration of India's maritime soft power as the Lokayan-2026 expedition enters its homeward stretch.
Key Takeaways
INS Sudarshini departed Salalah, Oman on 17 October 2026 after a four-day port call from 14 to 17 October .
The ship is on Lokayan-2026 , a 10-month transoceanic expedition covering 22,000 nautical miles across 18 ports in 13 countries .
Over 500 members of the Indian diaspora, including students from Indian School Salalah , visited the ship during the port call.
Professional and sporting engagements were held with the Royal Navy of Oman to strengthen bilateral ties.
The expedition began in Kochi on 20 January 2026 and has already completed the first-ever Atlantic crossing, arriving at Antigua on 27 May .
The voyage advances India's MAHASAGAR vision and carries the ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam across international waters.
Indian Navy's three-masted sail training ship INS Sudarshini departed Salalah, Oman, on 17 October 2026 after a four-day port call, continuing her ongoing transoceanic deployment Lokayan-2026, the Ministry of Defence announced on Sunday. The visit to Salalah, which ran from 14 to 17 October, marked the latest stop in a 10-month expedition that has already taken the ship across multiple seas and oceans.
Engagement with Oman and the Indian Diaspora
During the Salalah call, professional interactions and sporting engagements with the Royal Navy of Oman helped cement bilateral camaraderie and strengthen people-to-people ties, according to the Ministry. On 17 October, INS Sudarshini also welcomed over 500 members of the Indian diaspora aboard, including children and teachers from Indian School Salalah. The Indian Embassy in Muscat noted that the crew introduced visitors to life aboard a sail ship and shared experiences from the ongoing expedition. 'The visit instilled a sense of pride among the visiting diaspora about the growing capabilities and widely-reckoned seafaring tradition of the Indian Navy,' the Embassy said in a post on X.
What Lokayan-2026 Entails
The expedition commenced from Kochi on 20 January 2026, with the ship scheduled to cover approximately 22,000 nautical miles across 18 ports in 13 countries. The three-masted barque has so far traversed the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, completed a transit of the Suez Canal, and participated in France's prestigious Escale a Sete maritime festival. The ship subsequently completed the historic first Atlantic crossing, arriving at Antigua on 27 May after a 19-day passage from Cape Verde — a leg during which it crossed the milestone of 10,000 nautical miles since departing Kochi.
Maritime Diplomacy and National Symbolism
The Ministry of Defence framed the voyage explicitly as an instrument of maritime diplomacy. 'As Lokayan-2026 progresses through its tenth month, INS Sudarshini's voyage exemplifies the Indian Navy's spirit of exploration, professional excellence and commitment to maritime diplomacy,' it said. The ship is described as an ambassador of India, carrying the civilisational ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and advancing the vision of MAHASAGAR — Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions — as the vessel traverses international waters.
What the Voyage Signals for Naval Training
'The voyage reflects the Indian Navy's rich maritime heritage and its commitment to nurturing professional seamanship, resilience and leadership among naval trainees,' the Ministry said. This is notable at a time when India is actively expanding its naval footprint across the Indo-Pacific and deepening port-access arrangements with Gulf nations. INS Sudarshini now heads to her next port of call as Lokayan-2026 enters its final stretch toward completing the full circuit.
Point of View
With its Royal Navy engagements and diaspora outreach, is part of a pattern: India using naval presence to reinforce Gulf relationships at a moment when its strategic partnerships in the region are deepening. The MAHASAGAR framing is deliberate — it positions the Indian Navy not as a hard-power actor in the Gulf but as a connectivity partner, which is a harder sell to make and a more durable one. The question worth asking is whether the soft-power dividend from these voyages is being systematically converted into port-access agreements and interoperability frameworks, or whether it remains goodwill that dissipates once the ship sails on.
NationPress
19 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Lokayan-2026 and what is its route?
Lokayan-2026 is a 10-month transoceanic expedition by Indian Navy sail training ship INS Sudarshini, covering approximately 22,000 nautical miles across 18 ports in 13 countries. The voyage began in Kochi on 20 January 2026 and has included transits of the Suez Canal, crossings of the Arabian, Red, and Mediterranean Seas, and a historic first Atlantic crossing to Antigua.
Why did INS Sudarshini stop at Salalah, Oman?
INS Sudarshini made a four-day port call at Salalah from 14 to 17 October as part of Lokayan-2026's scheduled stops. During the visit, the crew engaged in professional and sporting interactions with the Royal Navy of Oman and hosted over 500 members of the Indian diaspora, including schoolchildren from Indian School Salalah.
What is MAHASAGAR and how does this voyage relate to it?
MAHASAGAR stands for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions — an Indian Navy vision for collaborative maritime engagement in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. INS Sudarshini's Lokayan-2026 voyage is cited by the Ministry of Defence as an active expression of this vision, with the ship serving as a floating ambassador fostering goodwill and maritime partnerships.
What milestone did INS Sudarshini achieve during the Atlantic crossing?
INS Sudarshini completed India's first-ever Atlantic crossing as part of Lokayan-2026, arriving at Antigua on 27 May after a 19-day passage from Cape Verde. During that leg, the ship also crossed the 10,000-nautical-mile mark since departing Kochi.
How many countries will INS Sudarshini visit during Lokayan-2026?
INS Sudarshini is scheduled to call at 18 ports across 13 countries during Lokayan-2026. The expedition, which began on 20 January 2026 from Kochi, is now in its tenth month and continues toward its remaining port calls before returning home.
