INS Sudarshini is the sail training ship of the Indian Navy, used to train Navy and Coast Guard cadets in traditional seamanship and ocean navigation aboard a tall ship. Commissioned in 2012, it periodically undertakes long overseas sail deployments that combine cadet training with naval diplomacy and cultural outreach.

Basic Details

  • Builder: Goa Shipyard Limited.
  • Launched: 25 January 2011; commissioned into the Indian Navy on 27 January 2012.
  • Home Port: Kochi, under the Southern Naval Command.
  • Type: Three-masted, barque-rigged sail training ship.

Features

  • Rig and Sail Area: Carries twenty sails across three masts, spread over roughly 1,035 square metres of sail area.
  • Dimensions: Measures 54 metres in length, with a beam of 8.53 metres and a draft of 4.5 metres.
  • Role: Provides basic seamanship and character-building training for Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard cadets during extended sail deployments.
  • Cumulative Distance: Has covered more than 140,000 nautical miles since commissioning, including a nine-nation ASEAN voyage in 2012-13 that covered 12,000 nautical miles across 13 ports.
  • Lokayan 26 Deployment: Undertook Lokayan 26, a 10-month transoceanic deployment that began from Naval Base Kochi on 20 January 2026, covering more than 22,000 nautical miles across 18 ports in 13 countries, including Oman, Malta, Spain, Morocco, France, four United States ports (including New York for the SAIL 250 celebrations), the Azores, and Lisbon, Portugal.

Objectives

  • Cadet Training: To give Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard trainees hands-on experience in sail navigation and traditional seamanship.
  • Maritime Heritage: To showcase India's seafaring traditions and shipbuilding capability to the countries it visits.
  • Maritime Diplomacy: To strengthen defence and cultural ties with partner navies through professional exchanges and cultural engagements at each port call.

Significance

  • Naval Diplomacy Tool: Each port call combines professional naval exchanges with cultural outreach, building maritime partnerships without the formality of a full bilateral exercise.
  • Trainee Exposure: Over 200 Indian Navy and Coast Guard trainees gain sustained blue-water sailing experience across a single 10-month deployment.
  • Cultural Diplomacy: Onboard receptions and diaspora engagements extend India's soft power alongside its naval outreach. One example was the Independence Day Colours ceremony held at Ponta Delgada in the Azores on 15 August 2026.