Pariksha SaathiINS Sudarshini returns to Kochi after completing Lokayan 26, a ten-month transoceanic sailing expedition
The Indian Navy accorded a ceremonial welcome to INS Sudarshini on 2 November 2026, as the ship returned to Kochi on successful completion of Lokayan 26, a ten-month transoceanic sailing expedition spanning over 22,000 nautical miles; the homecoming was marked by a water cannon salute and a ceremonial welcome by the Naval Band. Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, presided over the Flag-in Ceremony. Flagged off from Kochi on 20 January 2026, the voyage included 17 distinct port calls in 11 countries spanning Asia, Europe, Africa and North America, and two transatlantic crossings. Its major highlights were the ship's participation in the Escale à Sète maritime heritage festival in France, and in SAIL 250 and the International Naval Review as part of the commemorative events in the United States. Amid challenging weather and sea conditions, a transatlantic passage covering 2,200 nautical miles over 19 days marked, according to the Navy, the longest distance covered exclusively under sail. The crew held professional interactions, training exchanges and cross-training activities with the Royal Moroccan Navy, Portuguese Navy, Italian Navy, Egyptian Navy and Spanish Navy. The Navy said the deployment reflected India's maritime vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) and the ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, while remaining focused on its core objective of sail training for young officer trainees.
Drafted with AI assistance from the official PIB release linked above and checked against it by a second AI pass. Not line-edited by a human.
Learning context
When Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena flagged off INS Sudarshini from Naval Base, Kochi, on 20 January 2026, the Ministry of Defence said the ship would traverse approximately 22,000 nautical miles during the ten-month deployment, visiting 18 ports in 13 countries; the plans included her debut at Escale à Sète in France in March-April 2026 and joining Sail 250 at New York during the International Parade of Sails, as part of the USA's 250th Independence Day celebrations in July 2026. Built indigenously by Goa Shipyard Limited, INS Sudarshini is a 54-metre sail training ship of the Indian Navy, a three-masted barque equipped with 20 sails covering a sail area of more than 1,000 square metres. At the flag-off, the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief underscored the ship's role as India's 'Ambassador at Large'.
Check yourself: which shipyard built INS Sudarshini, how long is the ship, and how many sails does she carry?
Goa Shipyard Limited; 54 metres; 20 sails, with a sail area of more than 1,000 square metres.
Revision task: from this release, note the expedition's name, duration and distance, the return port and date, who presided over the Flag-in Ceremony, the flag-off date, the number of port calls and countries, the major highlights, the longest passage under sail, the navies engaged and the vision the deployment reflected; from the note, the planned distance, ports and countries, and the builder, length and sails of INS Sudarshini.
Test yourself
Which Indian Navy ship returned to Kochi on 2 November 2026 after completing Lokayan 26, a ten-month transoceanic sailing expedition?
Show the answer
Answer: INS Sudarshini
INS Sudarshini returned to Kochi on 2 November 2026 on completing Lokayan 26, which had been flagged off from Kochi on 20 January 2026. The voyage spanned over 22,000 nautical miles, with 17 distinct port calls in 11 countries and two transatlantic crossings.
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