INS Sagardhwani Flagged Off for Sagar Maitri–V

INS Sagardhwani, India’s oceanographic research vessel, was flagged off for the fifth edition of the Sagar Maitri initiative on 17 January 2026 from the Southern Naval Command, Kochi.

About INS Sagardhwani
INS Sagardhwani is operated by the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), Kochi, under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and is dedicated to oceanographic and marine research.

Sagar Maitri Initiative
Sagar Maitri is a flagship collaborative initiative of the Indian Navy and DRDO, aligned with the Government of India’s vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).

Objectives of the Programme
The initiative aims to:

• Strengthen cooperation among Indian Ocean Rim (IOR) countries
• Promote socio-economic engagement
• Enhance scientific collaboration in ocean research

Role of NPOL and DRDO
NPOL, Kochi, has been conducting oceanographic missions under the Sagar Maitri framework to promote scientific cooperation and capacity building among IOR nations.
As part of this effort, DRDO has launched a dedicated scientific component called MAITRI (Marine & Allied Interdisciplinary Training and Research Initiative) to establish long-term partnerships in ocean research and development.

Historic Significance of the Mission
During the current mission, INS Sagardhwani will retrace the historic routes of INS Kistna, which participated in the International Indian Ocean Expedition (1962–1965).

Participating Countries
The initiative seeks to build sustained scientific collaboration with eight IOR countries: Oman, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Myanmar.

Strategic Importance
The Sagar Maitri initiative is a key component of DRDO’s efforts to enhance Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA) for the Indian Navy, contributing to maritime security and regional stability.