Live
- Rajmata Jijabai Trophy: Manipur move to top of the table, T.N register first win
- Italian envoy Baroli hoping to strengthen ties with India through football
- CPI-M revokes suspension of Bengal party leader accused of sexual harassment
- Rachakonda Commissioner Emphasizes Health and Education at Uniform Diet Launch
- BJP leader visits late ASI Surendra Singh in Rajasthan, assures full govt support
- PM Modi tears into Gandhi family for its habit of amending Constitution
- Young Kabaddi Player Dies of Heart Attack During Match in Mandya
- Exciting Return of Santosh Trophy Football Tournament Kicks Off in Hyderabad
- Head Constable Dies by Suicide, Cites harssament by wife and inlaws
- Delhi BJP claims AAP govt will never pay women allowance like in Punjab
Navy bids adieu to foreign ships
Indian Navy bid adieu to the foreign navies which participated in the International Fleet Review which was held for five days beginning from February 4. Flag Officer commanding–in-chief, Eastern Naval Command Vice-Admiral Satish Soni flagged off the sailing ships early on Tuesday morning.
Visakhapatnam: Indian Navy bid adieu to the foreign navies which participated in the International Fleet Review which was held for five days beginning from February 4. Flag Officer commanding–in-chief, Eastern Naval Command Vice-Admiral Satish Soni flagged off the sailing ships early on Tuesday morning.
Vice-Admiral took off from air station INS Dega and landed on the deck of INS Sumitra in the Bay of Bengal and flagged off the sailing ships INS Tarangani and INS Sudarshani. Later, talking to newsmen on board INS Sumitra, he said he was very happy that the five-day event went off in a grand success.
"The IFR success was more than our expectations,’’ the Vice-Admiral said and he thanked the Union government, Defence Ministry, Andhra Pradesh government, Southern and Western Command and particularly people from Visakhapatnam for their support and cooperation.
He said it was a great experience for the 20,000 young naval personnel who took part in the event and manifested their talent. Soni said the foreign Naval chiefs and their staff expressed their happiness over the event and particularly the cooperation and hospitality extended by the people of Visakhapatnam.
Asked about the decommissioning of the aircraft carrier, INS Viraat, he said the ship will be decommissioned this year around June. Regarding the commissioning of the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, he said it was likely to be commissioned either in 2018 or 2019 after sea trials in 2017.
Asked to comment on Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar’s statements that the Eastern naval Command would become the capital of Indian navy in future, he said it is great honour to the ENC. “We will strive hard to keep up their expectations,” he said.
Visiting foreign ships were escorted to the open seas on their way home. Towards increasing interoperability among participating foreign navies and providing the requisite operational element to IFR, ships sailed out from city in two groups of 27 ships each for a Passage Exercise (PASSEX).
The first group was under the command of Rear Admiral Ravneet Singh, Flag Officer Commanding, Western Fleet, who embarked onboard aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya and the second group was led by Rear Admiral S V Bhokare, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet who boarded aircraft carrier INS Viraat.
This is the first ever passage exercise in Indian waters with combined participation of such larger number of foreign and Indian warships. The exercises included various formation manoeuvres, cross deck landing of aircraft, aerial photography and steam past, which is akin to a salute at sea.
On completion of the PASSEX, the foreign ships shaped course for their next destination and Indian Naval ships returned to their designated commands.
