The Indian Navy on Thursday successfully concluded Operation Southern Readiness 26-2, a four-day multinational maritime security training engagement, at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi. The exercise, held from July 20 to 23, brought together maritime professionals from across the globe to enhance interoperability, strengthen regional cooperation and improve collective responses to evolving maritime security challenges.
Conducted in partnership with the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) under the aegis of the Southern Naval Command and the Indian Navy-led Combined Task Force (CTF) 154, the exercise witnessed the participation of 276 personnel representing 27 countries. The programme was further supported by 76 facilitators and subject matter experts, along with representatives from four international organisations, making it one of the most comprehensive multinational maritime training engagements hosted by India.
The exercise was inaugurated on July 20 by Rear Admiral Deepak Singhal, Chief Staff Officer (Training), Headquarters Southern Naval Command, in the presence of Commodore Dan Thomas, Deputy Commander of the Combined Maritime Forces, senior Indian Navy officers and delegates from participating countries.
The closing ceremony, held on July 23, featured a closing address by Commodore Milind M. Mokashi, Commander of Combined Task Force 154. Certificates were presented to facilitators and experts in recognition of their contributions, while the Chief Staff Officer (Training) delivered the valedictory address, highlighting the importance of sustained international collaboration in ensuring maritime security.
Throughout the four-day engagement, participants attended a series of professional discussions, simulator-based learning modules and practical training sessions covering a broad spectrum of maritime security subjects. The curriculum included Maritime Domain Awareness, Information Sharing, Maritime Law, Counter-Narcotics Operations, Force Protection Measures, Asymmetric Maritime Threats, Maritime Uncrewed Systems, and Operational Sea Training.
Specialised sessions were delivered by experts from various Indian Navy establishments, including the Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR). Contributions were also made by CMF organisations such as the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC), alongside renowned international institutions including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the International Maritime Organization’s International Maritime Law Institute (IMO-IMLI).
In addition to classroom-based instruction, participants underwent extensive practical training in damage control and firefighting, maritime communications, survival at sea, and boarding operations. They also received operational sea training onboard an Indian Naval ship, enabling them to apply theoretical knowledge in realistic maritime scenarios while exchanging operational experiences and best practices with counterparts from other nations.
According to the Indian Navy, the engagement generated approximately 3,800 training man-hours, reflecting the scale and intensity of the programme. The exercise significantly enhanced professional networking, interoperability and operational confidence among participating navies and maritime agencies, while contributing to regional capacity-building and collective maritime security.
Operation Southern Readiness 26-2 also showcased the Indian Navy’s advanced training ecosystem, featuring modern instructional methodologies, cutting-edge simulators and world-class maritime training infrastructure at the Southern Naval Command. Officials said the successful conduct of the exercise further strengthened the long-standing partnership between the Indian Navy and the Combined Maritime Forces while reaffirming India’s leadership of Combined Task Force 154.
The exercise also reinforced the Southern Naval Command’s growing reputation as a premier centre for professional maritime training, underlining India’s commitment to promoting a secure, stable and collaborative maritime environment in the Indian Ocean Region and beyond.
