ICG Ship Shaunak Sails for Perth Under Quad-at-Sea Observer Mission

Indian Coast Guard Ship Shaunak set sail from Chennai on September 25, 2026, bound for Perth in Australia, as part of the Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission. The deployment is intended to advance maritime cooperation and interoperability among the four Quad partners — India, Australia, Japan and the United States.

Embarked on the vessel are six sea riders: two officers each from India and Japan, and one officer each from Australia and the United States. Their programme includes shipboard activities and professional exchanges meant to improve interoperability, sharpen coordination and build mutual trust among the participating navies and coast guards.

The mission follows the Quad Foreign Ministers' Joint Statement of May 26, 2026, and reflects the grouping's stated commitment to a free, open, inclusive and rules-based maritime order in the Indo-Pacific.

The voyage also underscores India's maritime vision of MAHASAGAR — Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions — and the Indian Coast Guard's emphasis on collective engagement, professional linkages and a secure maritime environment across the Indo-Pacific.