INDIA. Mumbai: Indian Naval Ship (INS) Saryu, the indigenously built Offshore Patrol Vessel is undertaking coordinated patrol (CORPAT) with Indonesian Naval Ship KRI Bung Tomo, which will be on till Saturday, July 31.
The Maritime Patrol Aircraft from both nations are participating in the 36th edition of CORPAT. The exercise, being conducted as a ‘non-contact, at sea only’ exercise given the COVID-19 pandemic, highlights the high degree of mutual trust and confidence, synergy, and cooperation between the two friendly navies.
India and Indonesia have been carrying out Coordinated Patrols along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) twice a year since 2002, to keep this vital part of the Indian Ocean Region safe and secure for commercial shipping, international trade, and conduct of legitimate maritime activities. CORPATs help build understanding and interoperability between navies and facilitate the institution of measures to prevent and suppress Illegal Unreported Unregulated (IUU) fishing, drug trafficking, maritime terrorism, armed robbery, and piracy.
As part of the Government of India’s vision of SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region), the Indian Navy has been proactively engaging with countries in the Indian Ocean Region to enhance maritime security. Maritime interactions have been growing steadily between the India and Indonesia navies with frequent port visits, bilateral exercises, and training exchanges. CORPAT seeks to bolster the maritime cooperation between the two navies and forge strong bonds of friendship across the Indo-Pacific.
Indra Navy
In another development, the 12th edition of exercise INDRA NAVY, a biennial bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and Russian Navy was held in the Baltic Sea on July 28 and July 29.
Vice-Admiral Sergei Yeliseyev, Deputy Commander of Russian Navy’s Baltic Fleet visited INS Tabar and was received on board with a Guard of Honour during a recent visit. (Photo credit: Indian Navy)
Initiated in 2003, Ex INDRA NAVY epitomizes the long-term strategic relationship between the two navies. It was undertaken as part of the visit of INS Tabar to St Petersburg, Russia to participate in the 325th Navy Day celebrations of the Russian Navy.
This exercise has matured over the years with an increase in scope, complexity of operations, and level of participation. The primary aim of exercise INDRA NAVY-21 is to further consolidate inter-operability built up by the two Navies and enhance understanding and procedures for multi-faceted maritime operations.
In this exercise, the Indian Navy was represented by the stealth Frigate INS Tabar whilst the Russian Federation Navy was represented by Corvettes RFS Zelyony Dol and RFS Odintsovo of the Baltic Fleet. The exercise included various facets of fleet operations such as anti-air firings, underway replenishment drills, helicopter ops, boarding drills, and seamanship evolutions.
Symposium
In the meanwhile the Western Naval Command of the Indian Navy will be conducting an online symposium with the theme “Navy and 75 years of Nation building” on August 09, to commemorate the launch of “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav”. This year marks the 75th year of India’s independence.
The Keynote address for the event will be delivered by the Chief Guest, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. He will also release an English translation of the Kutchi Navigation book “Malam ni Pothi” as part of the event. Also, various eminent speakers from both Academia and the Navy will cover themes such as ‘Maritime Legacy and Loss of Freedom at Sea’, ‘Naval Contribution to Freedom Struggle’, and ‘Indian Navy & 75 years of Nation Building’ during the three-hour symposium.
The Naval Uprising of 1946 has played an important role in the Independence of India and the grit and fortitude of those young trainee officers would be showcased through a short film as part of the symposium. The Indian Navy and the Maritime History Society (MHS), Mumbai has invited maritime enthusiasts and the public to attend the digital symposium that will be streamed online on the Indian Navy’s YouTube channel from 1500 hours on August 09.
