Indian Navy’s IOS SAGAR completes key training phase, boosts maritime cooperation in IOR

The Indian Navy successfully completed the Harbour Training Phase of its IOS SAGAR initiative at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi, marking a major milestone in advancing regional maritime cooperation and capacity building in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

Indian Navy informed that conducted over two weeks, the training brought together multinational crews for a comprehensive programme across premier naval training establishments. The curriculum covered seamanship, navigation, communication procedures, safety of life at sea, firefighting and damage control, along with specialised modules such as Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) operations and advanced bridgemanship.

A key highlight was the extensive use of advanced simulators and modern training infrastructure, enabling realistic, scenario-based learning and enhancing operational readiness in complex maritime situations.

Training under the aegis of Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) further familiarised participants with Indian Navy procedures, while focused sea training modules by the Naval Workup Team strengthened coordination and interoperability among partner nations, it added.

The initiative addresses shared maritime challenges in the IOR, including piracy, illegal fishing, trafficking and disaster response, by fostering joint operational understanding and collaboration.

Following the harbour phase, IOS SAGAR will now move into the operational deployment stage, involving joint activities at sea and port engagements across the region.

Officials said the initiative underscores India’s vision of “One Ocean, One Mission” and its broader MAHASAGAR outlook, positioning the Indian Navy as a key maritime training partner while contributing to a secure and stable Indo-Pacific maritime domain.