INS Sudarshini is on a deployment to the Middle East

As part of efforts to strengthen ties with friendly countries in the Middle East,
Indian Navy’s Sail Training Ship INS Sudarshini visited Port Sultan Qaboos in Muscat, Oman on December 5 for a three day Operational Turn Round (OTR).

The ship is on a deployment to the Middle East aimed at strengthening ‘Bridges of Friendship’ with Friendly Foreign Countries in the region as also reach out to the Indian diaspora settled in the Gulf, said the Ministry of Defence on Wednesday.

During her stay at Muscat, the ship’s crew engaged extensively with the Royal Navy of Oman.

The Commanding Officer, Cdr Srikanth Venugopal, paid an official visit to HQ Royal Navy of Oman (RNO) and interacted with Capt Ali Al Hosini, Director General Human Resources, RNO. Naval cooperation, training of young officers and aspects of sail training were amongst the subjects discussed, the defence ministry said.

The ship also undertook operational exchanges in the form of visits to RNO Sail Training Ship Shabab Oman II and Wudham Naval Base, and also embarked five sea riders onboard for a sea experience sortie.

The Commanding Officer also called on Amit Narang, Ambassador of India to Oman, Muscat. The Ambassador along with the Indian Embassy staff also visited the ship and a familarisation tour was conducted onboard.

INS Sudarshini is an indigenously built Sail Training Ship (STS) built by Goa Shipyard Limited and based at Kochi, Kerala under the Southern Naval Command of the Indian Navy.

The ship, along with her sister ship INS Tarangini, form the sail training element of the 1st Training Squadron based at Kochi and has been imparting sail training to IN personnel as well as junior officers from friendly foreign countries.
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