Singapore, 28 April (H.S.): Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sunayna has arrived at the Changi Naval Base in Singapore, marking the latest port call in its ongoing deployment and underscoring the strengthening maritime ties between India and Singapore. The vessel, which reached the base Monday, was accorded a warm welcome, highlighting the deepening defence and naval partnership between the two countries in the Indo‑Pacific region.
INS Sunayna is currently deployed under the Indian Navy’s Indian Ocean Sar (IOS) “Sagar” initiative, which envisions mutual and holistic development to enhance security and growth across the oceanic region. The ship’s stopover at Changi is its fourth foreign port call so far, following visits to Male (Maldives), Phuket (Thailand) and Jakarta (Indonesia). The vessel carries a multinational contingent of 16 friendly foreign countries and is operating in the Indian Ocean to bolster regional stability and collective security.
In Singapore, the Indian High Commissioner, Dr. Shilpak Ambule, met the crew onboard and commended their role in strengthening maritime partnerships and improving interoperability under the broader Sagar vision. The visit is designed to upgrade joint capabilities in areas such as navigation, damage control, information fusion and humanitarian assistance, while also reinforcing the India–Singapore naval rapport.
Commander Siddharth Chaudhary, the ship’s commanding officer, paid floral tributes at the Kranji War Memorial and met with Colonel Chua Meng Soon, the Commander of RSAF 9th Flotilla, to discuss opportunities for expanding maritime cooperation. The bilateral consultations are framed around enhancing professional exchange, information sharing, and operational‑level joint exercises in the years ahead.
During the port call, the ship was opened to schoolchildren and social‑media influencers, allowing them to experience life at sea and gain first‑hand exposure to naval operations.
The crew also participated in a community outreach run based on the theme “One Ocean, One Mission,” bringing together Indian diaspora members and local residents to promote maritime awareness and unity.
As part of the visit, the IOS Sagar contingent is scheduled to tour the Republic of Singapore Navy’s (RSN) navigation and damage‑control simulators, information‑fusion centre, and naval museum, facilitating the exchange of best practices and modern operational techniques. In addition, the ship’s team will hold discussions with researchers from a local think tank, conduct a joint yoga session, and host a formal deck reception, all aimed at strengthening people‑to‑people ties and professional camaraderie with Singaporean stakeholders.
INS Sunayna will depart Singapore on April 29 to continue its mission in the Indian Ocean, reinforcing India’s commitment to a free, secure and inclusive Indo‑Pacific in collaboration with like‑minded partners such as Singapore.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
