INS Ranjeet, INS Kulish get Best Ship awards at 'Fling-13'

Visakhapatnam: 'INS Ranjeet' and 'INS Kulish' bagged the 'Best Ship' award at the annual awards function of the Eastern Fleet, 'Fleet Evening-2013', or 'Fling', as the event is popularly called, commemorating the accomplishments of the Fleet over the past year, at the Naval Dockyard here on Sunday. Vice Admiral Anil Chopra, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command (ENC), was the chief guest at the 'Fling' hosted by Rear Admiral Ajit Kumar P, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet. The award of trophies to the ships that excelled in various disciplines was followed by an enthralling entertainment programme by renowned artistes. Among others, 'INS Karmukh' was adjudged the 'Most Spirited Ship' and 'INS Airavat' bagged the trophy for the 'Best Amphibious Ship'. Over the past year, Eastern Fleet, the 'Sword Arm' of the ENC, or the 'Sunshine Fleet', as it is also called, has been at the forefront of all operations on the eastern seaboard and has witnessed intense activity spanning the entire spectrum of maritime operations. To strengthen bilateral relations, the Eastern Fleet also undertook a major Overseas Deployment (OSD) to Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan, the Philippines, China, South Korea, Malaysia, Russia and the Maldives. In addition, ships of the Eastern Fleet undertook Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surveillance and anti-piracy patrols off Gulf of Aden, Seychelles and Mauritius to maintain order on high seas and ensure freedom of global trade. The Fleet also undertook several coastal security exercises all along the coast and in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands as well.