INS Tamal's Visit to Souda Bay, Greece: Key Highlights

Vessel and Timeline: The Indian Navy's state-of-the-art warship, INS Tamal, completed a port visit to Souda Bay, Greece, from August 19-22, 2025.
Objective: The visit was part of the warship's journey back to its home port in India, aimed at strengthening maritime diplomacy and expanding bilateral relations with partner nations.
Key Engagements and Activities:
The Commanding Officer of INS Tamal met with senior officials from the Hellenic Navy and NATO, including Commander Commodore Dionysios Mantadakis and Captain Koplakis Ilias, to discuss operational and collaborative matters.
A cross-deck visit was organized for INS Tamal's crew to the Italian Navy's multi-role landing helicopter dock, ITS Trieste.
India's Ambassador to Greece, Rudrendra Tandon, visited the ship on August 20, 2025.
The crew visited local naval and military sites, including the Souda Naval Base and a World War II cemetery in Crete, where they paid tribute.
Naval Exercise: Before departing on August 22, the INS Tamal conducted a joint exercise with the Hellenic Navy's patrol boat, HS Ritos, to enhance interoperability and professional cooperation between the two navies.
Significance: The port call underscored the importance India places on its relationship with Greece, highlighting the growing defense cooperation and providing a platform for both navies to share best practices.