First Training Squadron (1TS) of the Indian Navy departed Singapore on 18 January 2026, successfully concluding a three-day port call as part of its ongoing Training Deployment. The visit combined professional engagements, cultural outreach, sporting fixtures, and community interactions, reinforcing bilateral maritime cooperation.
During the port call, Capt Tijo K Joseph, Senior Officer 1TS, along with Commanding Officers of INS Shardul, INS Sujata, and ICGS Sarathi, paid a courtesy call to Col Tay Choong Hern, Acting Commander of Singapore’s Maritime Training and Doctrine Command (MTDC). Discussions highlighted six decades of India–Singapore naval partnership and shared maritime security interests. A wreath-laying ceremony at the Kranji War Memorial paid homage to fallen heroes.
A deck reception hosted onboard INS Tir and ICGS Sarathi brought together senior leadership from the Republic of Singapore Navy, diplomats, members of the Indian diaspora, and other dignitaries. Col Tay Choong Hern praised the longstanding India–Singapore Navy cooperation and reiterated Singapore’s commitment to enhancing defence ties.
Cultural and community engagements included performances by the Indian Navy Band at Our Tampines Mall and GIIS Auditorium, friendly sporting fixtures such as dodgeball with RSN trainees, and interactions with residents of the Sree Narayan Old Age Home and Nursery, reflecting the Navy’s commitment to social responsibility.
Professional training exchanges featured Damage Control training, museum visits, and ship tours, providing 1TS trainees with hands-on experience and insight into modern naval operations.
The deployment underscores India’s Act East Policy, strengthens maritime outreach in Southeast Asia, and exemplifies the Navy’s role in fostering international cooperation, building future naval leadership, and contributing to regional security under the MAHASAGAR vision.
