The INS Sudarshini Barcelona departure came on Sunday, as the Indian Navy's sail training ship wound up her stopover in the Catalan port and set course for the next leg of the Lokayan 26 expedition.

The visit had opened days earlier with the ship's arrival on the Mediterranean coast.

INS Sudarshini Barcelona departure closes a run of naval exchanges

During the port call, the Commanding Officer held professional exchanges with senior officials of the Spanish Navy and maritime authorities in Barcelona, defence sources said. The discussions covered areas of mutual interest between the two navies.

They continued a pattern of engagement that has marked the ship's stops through Lokayan 26 since the voyage began.


Deck reception draws diplomatic and civil guests

A deck reception was held onboard INS Sudarshini during the stopover, attended by senior naval officers, diplomatic representatives, civil authorities and other distinguished guests, according to reports at the time. The gathering gave officials from both countries an occasion to mark the Barcelona departure formally, aboard the vessel itself, before the ship's onward sailing.

Ship opened to the public

INS Sudarshini was also open to visitors during her time in Barcelona.

Members of the Indian diaspora and local residents were able to come aboard and interact with the crew and the sea trainees, a feature that has become a regular part of the ship's port calls on this voyage.

Lokayan 26 continues India Spain maritime ties

The INS Sudarshini Barcelona departure reaffirmed the enduring maritime ties between India and Spain, defence sources said, and gave both sides an opportunity for professional and cultural engagement, adding to the bonds of friendship and cooperation the voyage has been building port by port since it began.

Voyage builds on earlier Lokayan 26 port calls

The Barcelona arrival had marked the ship's entry into Spanish waters after an earlier passage through Portugal, where INS Sudarshini called at Ponta Delgada in the Azores before her departure from Lisbon. Each stop has followed a similar rhythm of official calls, deck receptions and open ship visits for the diaspora and the local public.

INS Sudarshini is a sail training ship of the Indian Navy. The Spanish Navy trains its own officers at the Escuela Naval Militar, one of the institutions represented among the port call's engagements, according to the Spanish Navy.

More on the Indian Navy's sail training programme is available from the Indian Navy, while background on India's defence diplomacy engagements with Spain is tracked by the Ministry of External Affairs.