Multinational Maritime Security Exercise ‘Operation Southern Readiness 26-2’ Concludes at Southern Naval Command, Kochi.
Kochi:
The four-day multinational maritime security training engagement ‘Operation Southern Readiness 26-2’ concluded at the Southern Naval Command, Kochi, on Thursday, strengthening cooperation, interoperability and operational preparedness among participating maritime forces.
Conducted by the Indian Navy in partnership with Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) under the aegis of Southern Naval Command and the Indian Navy-led Combined Task Force 154 (CTF 154), the exercise brought together 276 personnel from 27 countries, supported by 76 facilitators and Subject Matter Experts. Representatives from four international organisations also participated in the engagement.
The exercise was inaugurated on 20 July 2026 by Rear Admiral Deepak Singhal, Chief Staff Officer (Training), Headquarters Southern Naval Command, in the presence of Commodore Dan Thomas, Deputy Commander, Combined Maritime Forces, senior naval officers and representatives from participating nations.
The closing ceremony held on 23 July 2026 featured a closing address by Commodore Milind M Mokashi, Commander CTF 154, presentation of certificates to facilitators and a valedictory address by the Chief Staff Officer (Training).
Focus on maritime security and operational training
The programme integrated maritime security, legal and operational perspectives through professional discussions, simulator-based instruction and practical training sessions.
Key areas covered during the engagement included Maritime Domain Awareness and Information Sharing, Maritime Law, Counter-Narcotics Operations, Force Protection Measures, Asymmetric Threats, Maritime Uncrewed Systems and Operational Sea Training.
The specialised training sessions were conducted with contributions from various organisations, including the Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) of the Indian Navy, Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) of CMF, and international organisations such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMO IMLI).
Practical training enhances operational capabilities
Participants underwent practical training in damage control and firefighting, maritime communications, survival at sea and boarding procedures. They also participated in sea training onboard an Indian Naval ship, providing an opportunity to exchange operational experiences and best practices among maritime forces and organisations.
The exercise generated 3,800 training man-hours and contributed towards building stronger professional networks, improving operational confidence and enhancing collective maritime security capabilities.
Strengthening global maritime cooperation
Operation Southern Readiness 26-2 highlighted the Indian Navy’s advanced training infrastructure, modern simulators, professional expertise and innovative instructional methods.
The successful completion of the exercise further strengthened the partnership between the Indian Navy and Combined Maritime Forces while underscoring the leadership role of the Indian Navy-led CTF 154 in promoting regional maritime security.
The exercise also reinforced the position of Southern Naval Command, Kochi, as a premier training hub and a preferred destination for professional maritime training among partner nations.
