Indian Navy’s 1st Training Squadron Arrives at La Réunion, Mauritius for Bilateral Engagements

Ships of the Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron (1TS), INS Tir, ICGS Sarathi, and INS Shardul, arrived at La Réunion and Port Louis (Mauritius), respectively, as part of their Long Range Training Deployment in the Southwest Indian Ocean Region.

Elaborating on the details, the naval spokesperson said that at La Réunion, Tir and Sarathi were received by the French Navy ship FS Nivose, with a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) marking the welcome.

Advertisement

The visit includes professional interactions such as cross-training visits, joint diving exercises, yoga sessions, and sports fixtures, strengthening the India–France naval partnership. The Senior Officer of 1TS also called on the French Naval Base Commander and the Commandant Supérieur des FAZSOI, where discussions focused on regional security, prospects for joint exercises, and avenues for enhancing maritime cooperation under the shared vision of building bridges of friendship, the spokesperson added.

Simultaneously, INS Shardul arrived at Port Louis, Mauritius, where she conducted joint patrolling and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surveillance with MCGS Victory and a Mauritius Coast Guard Dornier before arrival. During the port call, the Commanding Officer of INS Shardul called on senior Mauritian leadership, including the Commissioner of Police, the Commandant of the National Coast Guard, and the Secretary of Home Affairs.

A series of joint training exercises is planned with the National Coast Guard of Mauritius, covering diving operations, firefighting, damage control, and shipboard familiarisation drills. Community outreach, yoga sessions, cultural programmes, and friendly sports fixtures are scheduled to foster camaraderie and people-to-people connect. Cross-deck visits, school tours, and open-ship events will provide opportunities for the public and the Indian diaspora to gain an insight into life at sea and the role of the Indian Navy, the spokesperson said.