The Indian Navy’s guided-missile destroyer INS Kochi concluded a successful port visit to Malé, marked by high-level engagements, joint activities, and reaffirmation of India’s commitment to regional maritime cooperation.
In a statement issued Friday, the Indian High Commission in the Maldives said the ship’s visit “marks a significant milestone in India’s commitment to regional maritime cooperation and capacity-building with friendly foreign countries.”
“INS Kochi had fruitful interactions and professional exchanges at Malé,” the High Commission said on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).The visit also coincided with the formal handover of Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) ship CGS Huravee—which underwent a refit at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai from December 2024 to April 2025.
The vessel was officially handed back to the MNDF at a ceremony at the Coast Guard Jetty in Malé by India’s High Commissioner G. Balasubramanian, in the presence of Major General Ibrahim Hilmy, Chief of Defence Force, MNDF.
According to the Navy PRO in Kochi, INS Kochi’s visit "highlights the strong maritime ties between India and the Maldives" and demonstrates India’s continued commitment to ensuring security, peace, and freedom of navigation in the Indian Ocean region.
The commanding officer of INS Kochi, Captain Mahesh C. Moudgil, paid courtesy calls on senior MNDF officials, including Major General Hilmy and Brigadier General Mohammed Saleem, Commandant of the MNDF Coast Guard.
During its stay, a series of bilateral activities—including cross-deck visits, official meetings, and friendly sporting events—were held to promote interoperability and deepen defence ties between the Indian Navy and the MNDF.
Commissioned in September 2015, INS Kochi is part of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet, operating under the Western Naval Command based in Mumbai.
