MOMBASA, Kenya — India’s Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Sachet docked at the Port of Mombasa in a goodwill visit aimed at strengthening maritime cooperation, regional safety, and security. The port call, taking place between September 17 and 21, is part of the vessel’s wider deployment to three African countries. The ship was received by India’s Defense Attaché to Kenya, Captain V. Shirdikant, who led the visiting delegation.
The Indian High Commission said the visit “reflects the close and cordial ties between India and Kenya as maritime neighbors,” adding that both countries are keen to expand defense partnerships in line with their shared security interests in the Western Indian Ocean. Kenya Coast Guard Service (KCGS) noted that the visit sets the stage for joint exercises and professional exchanges to enhance interoperability between the two services.
During its stay, personnel from both Coast Guards will engage in ship visits, technical interactions, and friendly sporting events, fostering cooperation and mutual understanding. A deck reception will be held aboard ICGS Sachet on Thursday, with KCGS Director General Bruno Shioso as the Chief Guest. The ship will also be open to Mombasa residents on Sunday for public visits before sailing on to Cape Town, South Africa.
The highlight of the deployment will be a joint passage exercise between ICGS Sachet and KCGS’s MV Doria, a move seen as critical in improving coordination in maritime patrols, search and rescue missions, and pollution response. Such exercises are part of broader efforts to secure sea lanes in the Western Indian Ocean, a region vital to global trade but threatened by piracy, smuggling, and illegal fishing.
ICGS Sachet is the first of five 105-metre Offshore Patrol Vessels built by Goa Shipyard Limited. Equipped with advanced systems, including facilities for helicopters, pollution response gear, and the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, the vessel is designed for multi-role operations across India’s vast Search and Rescue Region. Its deployment to East Africa underscores India’s commitment to maritime diplomacy and capacity-building among partner states.
Kenya and India have steadily expanded defense ties in recent years. In 2023, the two countries’ naval forces undertook joint training to strengthen maritime security. Indian Navy Deputy Chief, Vice Admiral Sanjay Mahindru, also visited Kenya in June last year, while Defence Adviser Captain Velagada Shirdikant held talks with Kenya Navy leadership on areas of collaboration. These engagements build on the 2016 state visit to Kenya by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during which seven agreements were signed, including in defense, and India donated 30 field ambulances to the Kenya Defence Forces.
Analysts say the growing India-Kenya partnership reflects a shared recognition of the Indian Ocean’s strategic importance. For Kenya, closer ties with India enhance capacity to police its waters, safeguard the blue economy, and strengthen counter-piracy efforts. For India, deepening cooperation with East African partners like Kenya cements its role as a security provider in the Indian Ocean, balancing regional rivalries and supporting a stable maritime environment.
