Port Louis: INS Imphal, the Indian Navy’s stealth-guided missile destroyer, successfully completed its port visit to Mauritius and departed from Port Louis today. The warship was in Mauritius to participate in the 57th Mauritius National Day celebrations, where it represented India with a marching contingent, a Navy band, and a flypast by two MH-60R helicopters. The grand event was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was the Chief Guest at the parade.
During its stay, INS Imphal engaged in a range of professional, cultural, and community outreach activities, aimed at further strengthening the strategic partnership between India and Mauritius. The ship conducted training programs for personnel of the Mauritius National Coast Guard (NCG) on various operational aspects, including harbor and sea watchkeeping, VBSS (Visit, Board, Search and Seizure) operations, force protection, shipborne helicopter operations, and emergency response techniques such as firefighting and damage control.
In a humanitarian gesture, the crew of INS Imphal organized a medical camp for the elderly at Gayasingh Ashram, providing essential healthcare services. The ship was also opened to the public on March 12, coinciding with Mauritius National Day, drawing over 1,300 visitors.
During the visit, the ship’s crew had the opportunity to tour key security establishments in Port Louis, including the Mauritius Police and National Coast Guard (NCG) Headquarters. Captain Kamal K Choudhury, the Commanding Officer of INS Imphal, met with high-ranking officials of the Mauritius Government and the Mauritius Police Force (MPF), reinforcing maritime cooperation between the two nations. A deck reception was also hosted on board the ship in collaboration with the High Commission of India, attended by senior ministers, government officials, and members of the diplomatic corps from Mauritius.
As a demonstration of operational synergy, INS Imphal conducted a bilateral Passage Exercise and Joint EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) surveillance with MCGS Victory, further strengthening the coordination and collaboration between the Indian Navy and the Mauritius National Coast Guard.
The deployment of INS Imphal reaffirmed India’s commitment to the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), reinforcing its role as the ‘First Responder’ and the ‘Preferred Security Partner’ for regional maritime security. This visit not only highlighted the strong bilateral ties between India and Mauritius but also underscored their shared commitment to regional stability and maritime cooperation.