ICG ship Shaunak sails for Australia with QUAD officers onboard
The Indian Coast Guard ship Shaunak has sailed from Chennai to Perth, Australia, for the QUAD-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission, carrying officers from India, Australia, Japan, and the U.S. This initiative aims to boost maritime interoperability, professional exchanges, and strengthen coordination among the four QUAD nations in the Indo-Pacific region.
Why it matters
This mission signifies growing military and strategic cooperation among QUAD nations, crucial for maintaining regional stability and a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific, impacting international relations and security dynamics.
Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ship Shaunak sailed from Chennai on Friday (September 25, 2026) for Perth, Australia , as part of the QUAD-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission, aimed at enhancing maritime interoperability and professional exchanges among India , Australia, Japan and the United States .
According to Indian Coast Guard, six officers, designated as ‘Sea Riders’, have embarked onboard Shaunak for the mission.
The group comprises two officers each from India and Japan and one officer each from Australia and the U.S. They will participate in shipboard activities and professional exchanges during the voyage.
The mission is intended to strengthen coordination, enhance mutual understanding of maritime operations and build professional linkages among the four QUAD countries.
The initiative is aligned with the QUAD Foreign Ministers’ Joint Statement of May 26, 2026, which reiterated the grouping’s commitment to a free, open, inclusive and rules-based maritime order in the Indo-Pacific.
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