March 14, New Delhi – Indian Naval Ship (INS) Trikand concluded its port call at Port Louis, Mauritius on March 13, 2026. The ship participated in the 58th Mauritius National Day Parade on March 12, 2026, with a marching contingent, a naval band, and a helicopter for the fly-past at Champ de Mars, Port Louis. This participation aligns with the tradition of Indian warships and aircraft participating in Mauritius National Day celebrations.
During the port call, Captain Sachin Kulkarni, the Commanding Officer of the ship, met with Rampersad Sooroojebally, PMSM, Commissioner of Police, and Anurag Srivastava, the High Commissioner of India to Mauritius. The ship also hosted a cultural evening onboard, with Dr Mahend Gungapersad, Minister of Education and Human Resources of Mauritius, as the Chief Guest. Senior ministers and officials from the Government of Mauritius attended the event.
The ship also engaged in several professional interactions, cultural exchanges, sporting events, and community outreach activities to further strengthen the strong bonds between the two nations. Training sessions were conducted onboard for Mauritius National Coast Guard personnel on practical aspects of harbour and sea watchkeeping, including firefighting and damage control. The ship was open to visitors on March 12, 2026, and hosted over 500 visitors.
Upon departure from Port Louis, INS Trikand conducted a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) and joint Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surveillance with CGS Valiant, and subsequently proceeded to the next phase of its planned operational deployment.
The port call reaffirmed the longstanding maritime partnership and strengthened bilateral ties between the two countries, in line with India's vision of MAHASAGAR – Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions, and further strengthened the strong bilateral ties between India and Mauritius.
(Source: Ministry of Defence)