{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Use Indian English|date=July 2019}}{{italic title|string=Sudarshini}}

{{Short description|Sail Training ship of thee Indian Navy}} {{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image | image = INS Sudarshini (A77) en-route to Sri Lanka.jpg | image_caption = INS ''Sudarshini'' (A77) en-route to Sri Lanka }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career | hide_header = | country = India | flag = {{shipboxflag|India|naval}} | name = INS ''Sudarshini'' | namesake = Sundari Nanda | owner = Indian Navy | ordered = | builder = Goa Shipyard Limited | original_cost = | laid_down = | launched = 25 January 2011 | acquired = | commissioned = 27 January 2012 | decommissioned = | in_service = | out_of_service = | renamed = | struck = | reinstated = | homeport = Kochi, Southern Naval Command | honours = | captured = | identification = *{{IMO Number|1011721}} *{{MMSI Number|419000297}} *Pennant number: A77<ref>{{cite web|title=Indian Navy Surface Ships - Training vessels|url=http://www.indiannavy.nic.in/naval-fleet/ships?page=0,12|publisher=Indian Navy|accessdate=14 February 2014}}</ref> | fate = | status = Active | notes = | badge = }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics | hide_header = | header_caption = | class = Three-masted barque | displacement = 513 tons | length = {{convert|54|m|abbr=on}} | beam = {{convert|8.53|m|abbr=on}} | height = {{convert|34.5|m|abbr=on}} (mainmast above waterline) | draught = {{convert|4.5|m|abbr=on}} | draft = | hold_depth = | power = {{convert|320|hp|abbr=on|lk=in}} per engine | propulsion = 2 Kirloskar Cummins diesel engines | sail_plan = Barque rig (1035&nbsp;m<sup>2</sup> sail area) | complement = 61<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goashipyard.co.in/products_sail_training_ship.asp|title=Goa Shipyards Products - Sail Training Ship }}</ref> | armament = | notes = }} }} '''INS ''Sudarshini''''' is a sail training ship built by Goa Shipyard for the Indian Navy. The ship is a sister ship of INS ''Tarangini'' which was commissioned in 1997.<ref>{{cite web|title=INS Tarangini gets a sister sailship: the INS Sudarshini|url=https://ajaishukla.blogspot.in/2012/01/ins-tarangini-gets-sister-sailship-ins.html}}</ref> "Sudarshini" means "beautiful lady Sundari" after the younger half-sister of Buddha.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaparenting.com/babynames/meaning-of-Sudarshini%20.shtml|title=The name Sudarshini at IndiaParenting.com|accessdate=2011-01-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723231047/http://www.indiaparenting.com/babynames/meaning-of-Sudarshini%20.shtml|archive-date=23 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> The ship was designed by Colin Mudie, a naval architect and yacht designer from the United Kingdom.<ref name=FI>{{cite web|url=http://frontierindia.net/indian-navy-sailing-ship-ins-sudarshini-hits-water|title=Indian Navy sailing ship INS ''Sudarshini'' hits water|publisher=Frontier India|accessdate=2011-01-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711131217/http://frontierindia.net/indian-navy-sailing-ship-ins-sudarshini-hits-water|archive-date=11 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Design and construction== ''Sudarshini'' is a three-masted sailing ship with a barque rig. It is 54 metres long and has 20 sails, 7.5&nbsp;km of rope and 1.5&nbsp;km of steel wire rope. Its sails have a total area of approximately {{convert|1035|m2|sqft}}. Capable of operations under sail or power, and with complement of five officers, 31 sailors and 30 cadets embarked for training, it can remain at sea for at least 20 days at a time.

''Sudarshini''{{'}}s steel hull was launched on 25 January 2011 at the port town of Vasco da Gama, Goa on the west coast of India, and by then the major portion of work had been completed. It was commissioned in Indian Navy on 27 January 2012 by Vice Admiral K.N. Sushil, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command. Built for worldwide operations, it will be used as a basic seamanship and character building platform.<ref name=SN>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/news/navy-commissions-ins-sudarshini-in-its-fleet-news-national-lb0aEeefeja.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110212144555/http://www.sify.com/news/navy-commissions-ins-sudarshini-in-its-fleet-news-national-lb0aEeefeja.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-02-12|title=Navy commissions INS ''Sudarshini'' in its fleet|website=Sify News|accessdate=2011-01-26}}</ref>

==Service history== ''Sudarshini'' started its first nine nation voyage of the ASEAN countries on 15 September 2012 to trace the ancient route taken by Indian mariners to South East Asia. During the course of the 12,000 mile voyage, she visited 13 ports in 9 ASEAN countries. The ship visited the ports of Padang, Bali, Manado in Indonesia, Port Muara in Brunei, Cebu, Manila, Da Nang, Sihanoukville in Cambodia, Bangkok, Phuket in Thailand, Singapore, Port Klang in Malaysia and Sittwe in Myanmar. While on the voyage, the ship's embarked Indian Naval and Coast Guard cadets, as well as cadets from other ASEAN countries.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/india-ready-to-see-off-sudarshini-on-voyage/article3876410.ece | title=India ready to see off ''Sudarshini'' on voyage | date=9 September 2012 | newspaper=The Hindu | first=S. | last=Anandan | accessdate=6 July 2019 }}</ref> During the ASEAN deployment, the commanding officer of ''Sudarshini'', Commander N Shyam Sundar, wrote live blogs from sea. This was the first time the Indian Navy had used social media to promote a diplomatic naval voyage.<ref>[https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/ins-sudarshini-returns-from-odyssey-on-march-25/article4540399.ece INS ''Sudarshini'' returns from odyssey on 25 March] The Hindu 23 March 2013</ref> The ship returned to its home port, Kochi, on 25 March 2013 and was greeted by the then Defence Minister of India, A. K. Antony, the then Chief of Southern Naval Command, Vice Admiral Satish Soni, ambassadors and heads of missions of ASEAN nations.<ref>[http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=793600 INS ''Sudarshini'' Arrives to Kochi After 6 Months Voyage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106031858/http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=793600 |date=6 January 2014 }}, ''Outlook India'', 25 March 2013</ref>

''Sudarshini'', the second sail training ship of the Indian Navy, has already covered {{Convert|140000|nmi|abbr=on}} until 2025.<ref name=":0">{{Cite press release|title=INS Sudarshini to embark on Transoceanic Sail Expedition - Lokyan 26|date=2026-01-19|publisher=Press Information Bureau|url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2216218&reg=3&lang=1|access-date=2026-01-26}}</ref>

On 20 January 2026, INS ''Sudarshini'' set sail from Kochi, Southern Naval Command for Lokayan 26, a 10-month long transoceanic sail expedition. The deployment will span across 18 ports and 13 countries and a voyage distance of {{Convert|22000|nmi|abbr=on}}. The ship will also participate in two tallship events including the ''Escale à Sète'' 2026 in France and the Sail 250 in New York Harbor. The Sail 250 event is a special edition to commemorate the United States' 250th Independence anniversary to be held between 4 July and 8 July. The voyage includes the sail training of over 200 Indian Navy and Coast Guard cadets.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite press release|title=Indian Navy's Sail Training Ship Sudarshini sets sail for Lokyan 26|date=2026-01-20|publisher=Press Information Bureau|url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2216522&reg=3&lang=1|access-date=2026-01-26}}</ref>

She made port calls at Salalah (Oman) and Safaga (Egypt) on 2 February and 21 February 2026, respectively. The ship travelled a distance of {{Convert|1832|nmi|km|abbr=on}} through the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea in 16 days.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Indian Naval Sail Training Ship INS Sudarshini makes first port call of Lokayan 26 at Salalah, Oman |date=2026-02-04 |publisher=Press Information Bureau |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2223195&reg=3&lang=1 |access-date=2026-02-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |title=INS Sudarshini marks historic port call at Safaga, Egypt during Lokayan-26 |date=2026-02-23 |publisher=Press Information Bureau |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2231708&reg=3&lang=1 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> After sailing through the Suez canal, she arrived at Valletta (Malta) on 12 March 2026. She is to sail to France later for participation in the ''Escale à Sète'' maritime festival.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Indian Naval Sail Training Ship INS Sudarshini arrives at Valletta, Malta, bolstering Mediterranean maritime ties |date=2026-03-14 |publisher=Press Information Bureau |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2240072&reg=3&lang=1 |access-date=2026-03-27}}</ref> She reached Sète (France) on 26 March<ref>{{Cite press release |title=INS Sudarshini arrives at Sète, France |date=2026-03-27 |publisher=Press Information Bureau |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2246112&reg=3&lang=1 |access-date=2026-03-27}}</ref> and departed on 7 April following participation in the ''Escale à Sète'', an Indian Navy marching contingent participating in the Heritage City Parade, commemorating 400th anniversary of the French Navy and the ship's rowing team clinching a bronze medal at the Jeux Maritimes.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=INS Sudarshini depart Sète, France after participating in Escale à Sète |date=2026-04-08 |publisher=Press Information Bureau |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2250058&reg=3&lang=1 |access-date=2026-04-17}}</ref> The ship arrived at the Port of Casablanca, Morocco on 15 April for a three day visit.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=INS Sudarshini arrives at Casablanca, Morocco |date=2026-04-16 |publisher=Press Information Bureau |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2252709&reg=3&lang=1 |access-date=2026-04-17}}</ref> She reached Las Palmas of the Canary Islands, Spain on 23 April for a three-day visit. This is the maiden visit of an Indian naval ship to the archipelago. The final African destination before the trans-Atlantic voyage would be Mindelo, Cape Verde.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=In a historic first, INS Sudarshini arrives at Las Palmas, Spain |date=2026-04-24 |publisher=Press Information Bureau |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2255252&reg=3&lang=1 |access-date=2026-04-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |title=INS Sudarshini concludes port call at Las Palmas, Canary Islands |date=2026-04-27 |publisher=Press Information Bureau |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2255920&reg=3&lang=1 |access-date=2026-04-29}}</ref> The ship reached Mindelo as part of its eighth port call on 4 May and departed on 8 May.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=INS Sudarshini arrives at Mindelo, Cape Verde |date=2026-05-06 |publisher=Press Information Bureau |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2258441&reg=3&lang=1 |access-date=2026-05-07}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |title=INS Sudarshini concludes port call at Mindelo, Cape Verde |date=2026-05-10 |publisher=Press Information Bureau |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2259588&reg=3&lang=1 |access-date=2026-05-11}}</ref> The ship reached Antigua as the first destination after the 19-day trans-Atlantic voyage on 27 May. This was the longest leeg of the mission and marked the maiden trans-Atlantic voyage of the ship while the last such crossing by an Indian Navy ship was conducted by {{Indian Navy ship|Tarangini}}.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=INS Sudarshini arrives at Antigua after successfully historic trans-Atlantic crossing |date=2026-05-28 |publisher=Press Information Bureau |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2266274&reg=3&lang=1 |access-date=2026-05-31}}</ref>

==See also== {{commonscat|INS Sudarshini (A77)}} *Training ships of the Indian Navy *{{Indian Navy ship|Tarangini}} *School ship *ASEAN–India Commemorative Summit *ASEAN-India Car Rally 2012

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sudarshini}} Category:Barques of the Indian Navy Category:Tall ships of India Category:Training ships of the Indian Navy Category:Sail training ships Category:Ships built in India Category:Three-masted ships Category:Individual sailing vessels Category:2011 ships