The Indian Navy’s sail training ship, INS Sudarshini, concluded her six-day port call at Barcelona, Spain, on September 6, marking another milestone in her ongoing Lokayan 26 transoceanic expedition. The vessel had arrived in the Spanish port city on September 1.
During the visit, the Commanding Officer held professional exchanges with senior officials of the Spanish Navy and maritime authorities, deepening institutional ties between the two navies. A deck reception was also hosted onboard the ship, drawing senior naval officers, diplomatic representatives, civil authorities, and other distinguished guests.
The ship was thrown open to visitors during her stay, giving members of the Indian diaspora and local Barcelona residents the chance to step aboard, tour the vessel, and interact directly with the crew and trainees — a gesture that helped bring India’s maritime tradition closer to the local community.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the port call reaffirmed the enduring maritime ties between India and Spain and offered an opportunity for both professional and cultural engagement, further strengthening the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two nations.
Barcelona is the latest stop in a voyage that has already taken INS Sudarshini across multiple continents. Just weeks earlier, the three-masted barque made a striking entry into Lisbon, Portugal, via the Tagus River on August 22, where her Commanding Officer met with the Commandant of the Portuguese Naval Academy and the Deputy Fleet Commander of the Portuguese Navy — a visit that marked the ship’s 15th port call in seven months of the voyage. Before Lisbon, the ship had also called at Ponta Delgada in the Azores.
The Lokayan 26 expedition continues to serve as a floating symbol of India’s maritime outreach — showcasing traditional sailing and seamanship skills while strengthening naval diplomacy and cultural goodwill at each stop along the way.
