INS Tamal strengthens Indo-Moroccan naval ties with Casablanca port call

INS Tamal, the Indian Navy’s newest stealth frigate, has completed a port call at Casablanca, Morocco, on her voyage to India. Commissioned in Russia on July 1, INS Tamal is transiting back to her home base via multiple European and Asian ports, advancing India’s maritime diplomacy and reinforcing bilateral ties. She is the third Indian naval ship in the last two years to visit Casablanca.

According to a statement from the naval spokesperson, during the three-day port call the ship engaged in a range of activities aimed at enhancing cooperation and collaboration between the two navies. Bilateral discussions with senior military officials, cross-deck visits, sports fixtures, yoga sessions, and cultural exchanges were conducted to honour Indo-Moroccan relations.

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The ship’s crew interacted with Captain Rachid Sadrhazi, Commander of the 1st Naval Base; Captain-Major Hasan Akouli, Commander of the Central Maritime Sector; Brigadier General Jamal Kaztouf, Delegated Commander of Weapons of the Casablanca Area; and Rear Admiral Mohamed Tahin, Rear Admiral Inspector of the Royal Moroccan Navy. The Indian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco, Sanjay Rana, visited the ship and interacted with senior Moroccan naval officials and the ship’s crew.

On departure from Casablanca, the ship undertook a Passage Exercise with the Royal Moroccan Navy ship Mohammed VI.

The Casablanca port call underscores the importance India attaches to its relations with Morocco and reflects the shared commitment to strengthening growing defence cooperation between the two nations.

It also provided an opportunity for both navies to exchange best practices and explore new avenues of collaboration. En route to her home base in India, the ship will visit multiple European and Asian ports to further bilateral ties across the spectrum, the statement added.