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Denis Giles

29 December 2013

Created: 29 December 2013

Last Updated: 29 December 2013

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Port Blair, Dec. 27: INS Saryu, the NOPV based at the Andaman & Nicobar Command, has returned on 25 Dec 13, after completing a  successful anti-piracy deployment in the Gulf of Aden (GoA) from Aug to Dec 13.During the four month long Deployment ship visited Djibouti and Oman. This was the first ever and longest deployment of its kind for a ship based at Port Blair and its successful completion is a result of the meticulous planning by the HQand Naval Component and the professionalism of the ship’s crew.

As a result of piracy activities off Somalia, the Indian Navy has been deploying naval warships in the Gulf of Aden since Oct 2008. This is part of the Govt of India’s initiative of safeguarding our national maritime interests and to instill confidence in Indian seafarers. Indian Naval ships carry out escort operations along an internationally recognized transit corridor in GoAto escort merchant vessels transiting the area.

During the deployment, the ship safely escorted 108 merchant vessels of various countries including 14 Indian vessels.The ship covered a total distance of more than 28,000 nautical miles during the deployment. The ship had embarked an integral Chetakhelicopter for carrying out surveillance and anti-piracy missions. During the deployment, the ship’s crew interacted with the navies of South Korea, Djibouti, Japan, Canada and UK and various cross visits were organised. All the foreign navies conveyed their appreciation for the Indian Navy’s deployment of ships in the GoA and were also impressed with the capabilities of the indigenously designed and built INS Saryu.

The ship is the first of the NOPV class of ships and this long deployment proved the tremendous operational capabilities of the ship and its crew, for undertaking anti-piracy missions thousands of miles away from base port for extended durations. It may be recalled that INS Saryu was commissioned on 21 Jan 13 and after completing its trials at various ports, had arrived at Port Blair on 29 May 13. The ship will now be preparing to take part in MILAN 14 and its crew is eagerly looking forward to showcasing this fine ship to the visiting foreign navies.

On its arrival at Port Blair, the ship was given a warm welcome by INS Investigator and INS Battimalv at sea and escorted into harbour by the recently inducted Fast Interceptor Crafts. The families of the ship’s crew were present at the IN jetty, along with officers and staff from Headquarters ANC and NAVC to welcome the ship back it Port Blair.

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Denis Giles

26 December 2013

Created: 26 December 2013

Last Updated: 26 December 2013

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Lt. Governor, Others Pay Homage To Tsunami Victims

Port Blair, Dec. 26: The Lt Governor, Lt Gen (Retd) A K Singh, today led the Islanders in paying rich tributes to the tsunami victims of the Islands, who lost their lives during the devastating tsunami on 26^th December 2004.

To mark the 9^th anniversary, a solemn function was organized at the Tsunami Memorial at Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex, Aberdeen in which the Lt Governor laid wreath at the memorial followed by paying of floral tributes by the Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Shri B P Ray, Chief Secretary, Shri Anand Prakash, Chairman (PBMC), Adhyaksha Zilla Parishad (SA), Chairperson (SSWB), Municipal Councillors, PRI representatives, senior officers of the Administration, prominent citizens and the general public.

A ‘Sarva Dharma Prathana Sabha’ and two minute silence was observed to pay homage to the departed souls.