INS Sudarshini, a three-masted sail training ship of the Indian Navy, completed a port call at Salalah, Oman, during its ten-month Lokayan-2026 transoceanic deployment. The ship departed Salalah on 18 October 2026, following a visit from 14 to 17 October.
Lokayan-2026 deployment
Lokayan-2026 is a transoceanic naval deployment that uses a long-distance sailing voyage to train naval personnel in seamanship, resilience and leadership. A transoceanic voyage crosses an ocean or traverses a substantial part of it. The deployment’s stated objectives include nurturing professional seamanship among naval trainees and presenting India’s maritime heritage. The voyage is linked to MAHASAGAR, which stands for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions. It also carries the ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, a Sanskrit expression meaning “the world is one family”.
Salalah port calls
Salalah was the first port of call on the Lokayan-2026 voyage in early February and hosted INS Sudarshini again in October. The ship concluded its first Salalah port call on 5 February 2026. During the February visit, its Commanding Officer met Captain Mohammad Al Ghailani, Southern Naval Area Commander of the Royal Navy of Oman, and Captain Mohammad Al Mahari, Commanding Officer of the Omani vessel Al Moazer. The October port call included professional interactions and sporting engagements between the Indian Navy crew and the Royal Navy of Oman. More than 500 members of the Indian diaspora, including pupils and teachers from Indian School Salalah, visited the ship on 15 October.
Sail training ships and maritime links
A sail training ship uses sails to train personnel in navigation, seamanship and ship handling. INS Sudarshini’s three-masted rig is a defining feature of its sailing configuration. Oman’s coastline borders the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman, placing Salalah on a major maritime route in the north-western Indian Ocean.
Important Facts for Exams
- INS Sudarshini is a three-masted sail training ship of the Indian Navy.
- Lokayan-2026 is a ten-month transoceanic deployment.
- MAHASAGAR expands to Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions.
- Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam means “the world is one family”.
Salalah and Oman
Salalah is a port city in Oman’s Dhofar Governorate on the Arabian Sea coast. The October 2026 visit followed INS Sudarshini’s earlier port call there in February 2026.
