Kochi’s bustling naval dockyard buzzed with activity as INS Sagar Dhvani embarked on the ambitious SAGAR Maitri-5 mission, waving the tricolor high against the Arabian Sea horizon. This cutting-edge hydrographic ship, fresh from its commissioning, represents a new chapter in India’s outreach to Indian Ocean littorals through collaborative maritime surveys.
Under the SAGAR doctrine championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the mission prioritizes mutual growth via shared knowledge. Over the coming months, INS Sagar Dhvani will partner with navies from Mauritius, Comoros, Madagascar, and Mozambique, conducting joint surveys to modernize nautical charts and promote eco-friendly fishing practices.
Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, addressing the crew and well-wishers, emphasized the strategic imperative: ‘In an era of contested seas, accurate hydrography is the bedrock of safe passage and economic prosperity.’ The vessel’s advanced multibeam echo sounders and side-scan sonars promise unprecedented data granularity, potentially revolutionizing regional maritime domain awareness.
Past Maitri missions have delivered tangible benefits, including updated charts that slashed navigation risks by 30% in surveyed zones. Building on this legacy, SAGAR Maitri-5 integrates climate resilience elements, mapping vulnerable coral ecosystems threatened by warming oceans.
As the ship vanishes into the blue expanse, it symbolizes India’s ascent as a net security provider. Stakeholders from international maritime bodies praise the initiative for its non-intrusive, development-oriented approach, setting a benchmark for South-South cooperation in an increasingly multipolar world.
