The Indian Navy flagged off INS Sagar Dhvani from Kochi today, dispatching the specialized survey vessel on the high-seas adventure of SAGAR Maitri-5. This mission, part of a flagship diplomatic effort, seeks to weave a tapestry of trust and technical synergy across the Indian Ocean archipelagoes.
Christened with seawater from multiple partner nations, the 110-meter ship bristles with cutting-edge tech for deep-sea mapping. Its deployment aligns seamlessly with India’s Act East and SAGAR policies, extending hands of friendship through practical hydrographic aid.
Speaking at the vibrant send-off event, Vice Admiral Anil Jai Singh noted, ‘SAGAR Maitri-5 will illuminate the ocean floor, lighting the way for safer voyages and stronger partnerships.’ The itinerary includes intensive joint operations, data exchanges, and onboard training for foreign mariners.
Since inception, the Maitri series has charted over 1.5 lakh square kilometers, benefiting global trade corridors. This edition targets under-surveyed expanses critical for piracy patrols and humanitarian assistance/disaster relief ops.
With climate change reshaping coastlines, the mission’s real-time ocean current modeling will prove invaluable for vulnerable island states. INS Sagar Dhvani’s journey not only charts waters but also India’s trajectory as a benevolent maritime power, ready to navigate the complexities of 21st-century geopolitics.