INS Sudarshini arrives in Alexandria during Lokayan 26 expedition

Indian Navy’s sail training ship INS Sudarshini arrived at the historic port city of Alexandria, Egypt, on September 23 as part of its ongoing Lokayan 26 transoceanic expedition. This marks the ship’s second visit to Alexandria during its deployment.The 10-month expedition began from Kochi on January 20, 2026, with INS Sudarshini scheduled to cover around 22,000 nautical miles across 18 ports in 13 countries.

#Lokayan26

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Indian Navy’s Sail Training Ship #INSSudarshini arrived at Alexandria, Egypt, on 23 Sep 26, during the return leg of #Lokayan26. The ship was received by RAdm Mohamed Abdel Aziz, Commander, Alexandria Naval Base.

As the voyage… pic.twitter.com/PJVMbngr5q

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) September 24, 2026

Since beginning the voyage, the three-masted barque has sailed across the Arabian Sea, Red Sea and Mediterranean, transited the Suez Canal and participated in the Escale à Sète maritime festival in France.The ship also completed its first Atlantic crossing, reaching Antigua on May 27 following a 19-day passage from Cape Verde. During the voyage, INS Sudarshini crossed the milestone of 10,000 nautical miles from Kochi.
It later sailed to the Azores and Portugal, with its arrival in Lisbon on August 22 marking its 15th port visit in seven months.During the expedition, naval trainees have gained practical experience in long-range ocean navigation, sail handling, open-sea manoeuvring and traditional seamanship.On arrival in Alexandria, INS Sudarshini was received by Rear Admiral Mohamed Abdel Aziz, Commander of the Alexandria Naval Base, along with representatives of the Embassy of India.The port visit will include courtesy calls, cross-deck visits and professional interactions with the Egyptian Navy. These engagements are aimed at promoting professional exchange and strengthening maritime cooperation between India and Egypt.
Lokayan 26 reflects the Indian Navy’s focus on professional training, maritime outreach and strengthening ties with partner nations.Through the deployment, INS Sudarshini is also showcasing India’s maritime heritage and carrying the message of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and the vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) across the oceans.