Kochi: INS Sagardhwani, the country’s dedicated oceanographic research ship operated by the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) under DRDO, sailed out from the Southern Naval Command in Kochi on Saturday to begin the fifth edition of the Sagar Maitri initiative.
The mission was flagged off by Radha Mohan Singh, Member of Parliament and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence. Members of the parliamentary committee attended the ceremony, along with Dr Samir V Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO; Rear Admiral Upal Kundu, Chief of Staff, Southern Naval Command; Dr R. V. Hara Prasad, Director General (Naval Systems & Materials); and Dr Duvvuri Seshagiri, Director, NPOL, among senior officers from DRDO and the Indian Navy.
Sagar Maitri is a key collaborative effort between DRDO and the Indian Navy, supporting the government’s vision of MAHASAGAR – Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions. The programme promotes stronger scientific cooperation among Indian Ocean Rim countries and supports broader socio-economic engagement through shared marine research.
NPOL has been conducting ocean observation missions under Sagar Maitri to enhance scientific partnerships and training with nations across the region. Its dedicated scientific component, the Marine & Allied Interdisciplinary Training and Research Initiative (MAITRI), seeks to deepen collaboration in ocean science, technology development, and capacity building.
During the current deployment, INS Sagardhwani will retrace parts of the historic route undertaken by INS Kistna during the International Indian Ocean Expedition from 1962 to 1965. The ship will engage with eight partner countries – Oman, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Myanmar – with the mission marking the start of a specific collaborative research effort with the Maldives, according to an official statement.
The initiative forms a central pillar in DRDO’s work to improve Underwater Domain Awareness for the Indian Navy. The voyage will map and collect oceanographic and acoustic datasets along planned observational tracks, providing long-term insights into the region’s maritime environment.
INS Sagardhwani, designed by NPOL and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, has been in service since July 1994. Over more than three decades of deployment, the specialised acoustic research platform has significantly advanced India’s marine science capabilities, supporting naval readiness, environmental study, and regional cooperation.
