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On the 10th anniversary of SAGAR Mission (security and growth across regions) on Saturday the 5th of April 2025, warship INS Sunayana was flagged-off on a specific voyage to visit ports across the nine Indian Ocean countries.

The ceremony was held at the Project Seabird naval base at Karwar. The defence minister Rajnath Singh stated that the nation has now moved from SAGAR to MAHASAGAR — from regional outreach to broader, holistic maritime cooperation.

“Now that India has transitioned from SAGAR to MAHASAGAR, there could be no better moment to launch the voyage of IOS SAGAR,” Rajnath said, highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s new initiative — MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) — as an expansion of India’s long-standing SAGAR vision.

INS Sunayna was redesignated as IOS SAGAR mission.

On board with 44 naval personnel from nine friendly Indian Ocean Region (IOR) nations — INS Suyana will visit Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Tanzania.

Apart from flagging-off SAGAR Mission, the defence minister also  inaugurated modern operational, repair and logistic facilities constructed under Project Seabird, worth over Rs 2,000 crore, boosting the Navy’s operational footprint on the western seaboard.

Describing IOS SAGAR as a reflection of India’s commitment to peace, prosperity and collective security, Rajnath told IOR representatives that India’s maritime vision goes beyond safeguarding national interests.

“Our Navy ensures that in the IOR, no nation suppresses another on the basis of overwhelming economy or military power. We protect sovereignty and promote equality of rights and duties,” he said.

He lauded the Indian Navy for emerging as the first responder during crises

INS Sunayna will visit Dar-es-Salaam, Nacala, Port Louis and Port Victoria during its voyage.

Sea-riders from partner nations will undergo training in firefighting, damage control, seamanship, and more — aimed at improving interoperability and deepening maritime ties.