Indian warships pay friendly visit to Vladivostok

Five Indian warships arrived in Russia's Pacific Fleet (PF) main naval base Vladivostok on Monday to pay a friendly visit; guests were met with martial music and bread-and-salt hospitality.

Indian and Russian national anthems were played on the pier at the Golden Horn Bay where entered the Indian task unit. It consists of of three destroyers INSDelhi, INS Ranvir, and INS Ranvijay, corvette INSKirch, and tanker INS Jyoti. Girls dressed in Russian national costumes handed over bread and salt to Indian officers; that is a symbol of Russian hospitality. 

The visit of Indian task unit under the flag of Rear Admiral Bish, Eastern Naval Command will last till Apr 22, reports RIA Novosti referring to PF Commander press-secretary Capt 1 rank Roman Martov. PF large ASW ship Admiral Tributs plays a role of the host ship. 

"Indian military delegation plans to pay visits to Pacific Fleet command and Mayor of Vladivostok. Indian guests are going to attend memorable sites of the city and the fleet. Indian Navy's band gave a big concert Monday evening in Naval Officers' Club", specified the interviewee. 

According to him, during the visit Pacific mariners will play a friendly soccer game with their Indian colleagues. The visit program also includes some informal meetings between naval servicemen of the two countries. Locals and guests of Vladivostok will be allowed to board Indian warships. 

"Current visit to Vladivostok is the second one for Indian sailors. First time they did it in 2007 during theINDRA-2007 joint naval exercise. In their turn, PF warships called at Indian ports several times in 90's, and then in 2001, 2003, and 2005", reminded Martov.

Indian, Singapore navy to engage in five-day naval exercise in South China Sea

SINGAPORE (PTI): The five-day joint naval exercise between the Indian Navy and the Singapore Navy will start Saturday in the South China Sea.

Five Indian navy ships, under the command of Rear Admiral Harish Chandra Singh Bisht, arrived in Singapore on Friday for the drill that aims to strengthen bilateral maritime security relations.

The joint exercises, held on alternate year in the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, has built up understanding and knowledge between Indian and Singapore navies, Rear Admiral Joseph Leong, Fleet Commander of the Republic of Singapore Navy told PTI at a reception hosted on board INS Jyoti.

He cited benefits of the joint exercise and cooperation developed by the Indian and Singapore navies in tackling major challenges and especially the piracy in the Gulf of Aden.

"We understand each other and have a high level contact in managing maritime security," said Rear Admiral Leong.

Rear Admiral Bisht said the annual exercises, held since 1994, were important to sharpen the skill of naval forces.

INS Delhi, INS Ranvijay, INS Ranveer, INS Jyoti and INS Kirch manned by 1,400 naval personnel are participating in the exercise. Singapore will have four naval ships including a submarine.

INS Ranvijay, the most powerful Indian naval ship, will carry out anti-submarine and anti-missile exercises.

But this time, the exercises would be a "mock warfare" though in the past live firing were tried out.