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Indo – U.S. joint bilateral naval exercise “Malabar 2010”, was conducted from April 23. The week long exercise was participated by the ships, submarines and aircraft from the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet.

Some interesting features of Malabar 2010 are:

• Aims to promote the interoperability of both navies.
• U.S. forces participated:
  • Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG 67).
  • Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Lassen (DDG 82), USS Chafee (DDG 90).
  • Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Curts (FFG 38).
  • Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Annapolis (SSN 760).
  • P-3 Orion aircraft, SH-60 helicopters.
  • Sea, Air and Land (SEAL) special forces detachment.
• Participation by Indian Navy:
  • INS Mysore (D 60), Delhi-class guided-missile destroyer.
  • Frigates: INS Godavari (F 20), INS Brahmaputra (F 31) and INS Tabar (F 44).
  • Submarine INS Shishumar.
• Training conducted at sea includes surface and anti-submarine warfare, coordinated gunnery exercises, air defense and visit, board, search and seizure drills including professional exchanges and discussions between both navies while at sea and on shore.
• U.S. Navy personnel also participated in a community service project during the port visit to Goa. Sailors from USS Shiloh and USS Lassen painted class rooms at the Bhatikar Model English School in Goa, India.

Here are some photographs released by the Commander U.S. 7th Fleet of U.S. Navy.

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INS Shivalik (F- 47), the first indigenously-built stealth frigate was commissioned on April 29 by the Defence Minister A K Antony at Mumbai. INS Shivalik with structural, thermal and acoustic stealth features is the first of the Project-17 frigates, built by Mazagon Docks Limited (MDL). It is reported that INS Shivalik is the largest stealth warship in her class in the world and the other countries having the capability to build stealth warships are the US, the UK, Russia, France, Sweden, China, Japan and Italy. The warship has integration of weapons and sensors of India, Russia, Israel and other western countries.

The 143 metres long warship with 6,000 tonne displacement has 35 officers and over 250 crew members. Two more warships of Shivalik class, INS Sayahdri and INS Satpura are expected to be commissioned by the end of this year and middle of next year respectively. More stealth warships are expected to be built under Project-17A.

Here is the press release dated April 29 and photographs on right from Press Information Bureau:

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Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata launched ‘Kamorta’ the first Anti Submarine Warfare Corvette (ASWC) for the Indian Navy on April 19. The event coincides with Golden Jubilee Anniversary celebrations of GRSE.

Some interesting features of ASWC Kamorta and the launch are:

• Kamorta signifies an island, in the Andaman and Nicobar group of islands.
• Launched by Smt. Mamatha M, wife of the Minister of State of Defence, Shri M.M. Pallam Raju.
• Stealth corvette (Yard 3017), the first of the series of four under construction as Project 28.
• Expected to be commissioned by mid-2012.
• Three remaining corvettes are also under construction and are expected to be inducted into the Indian Navy by early 2015.
• Equipped with the latest indigenously developed Sonar to detect submarines, torpedo tubes, Improvised Rocket Launchers (IRL) and scutter (torpedo decoys) launchers.
• Has a very low signature of radiated underwater noise.

Here are some photographs from Press Information Bureau.

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Admiral Gary Roughead, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) of the United States Navy, is on six days visit to India from April 11. His visit is significant in view of the annual Indo-U.S Malabar exercise scheduled from April 23 to May 02.

He is expected to visit ships and establishments of Indian Navy in Mumbai, Goa and some training establishments in Kochi.

Here is a photograph from Press Information Bureau.

Admiral Gary Roughead, CNO, U.S. Navy with Admiral Nirmal Verma, Chief of Naval Staff in New Delhi on April 12.

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The 17th annual Singapore India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX 2010) has commenced on April 03. The exercise is going on in the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal. SIMBEX 2010 is expected to conclude on April 16.

Some interesting features of SIMBEX 2010 are:

• Participating ships from the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN)
  • RSS Intrepid (Formidable Class stealth frigate – pennant number 69)
  • RSS Victory (Victory class missile corvette – pennant number 88)
• During the course of the exercise the RSN ships would also be visiting Port Blair and Visakhapatnam.
• Participating ships from the Indian navy:
  • INS Batti Malv (Fast Attack Craft) and INS Mahish (Landing Ship Tank) from the Andaman & Nicobar Command
  • INS Ranvir (Destroyer), INS Jyoti (Tanker) and a submarine from the Eastern Naval Command.
• In addition fixed wing and rotary wing aircrafts are also participating in the exercise.

Here are the photographs of RSS Intrepid and RSS Victory available from U.S. Navy website.

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On April 01, INS Chennai guided missile destroyer (Project 15A Kolkatta Class) was launched at Mumbai by Mrs Elizabeth Antony, the wife of Defence Minister A K Antony. INS Chennai is the third destroyer (after INS Kolkata and INS Kochi) of Project 15 Alpha, under construction by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL).

INS Chennai is expected to be commissioned in August 2013.

Here is the press release from Press Information Bureau:

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India is giving the highest priority to fight sea based terrorism and necessary resources are being allotted. On March 10, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Shri Mullappally Ramachandran, in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha presented an update of the comprehensive Coastal Security Scheme being implemented in the nine coastal States and four coastal Union Territories.

Here are some details:

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The citizens were happy to know that ICGS Vishwast (OPV 30) was formally inducted into Indian Coast Guard on March 17. Within a week after that we came to know that ICGS Vivek at Indira dock of Mumbai port sank in daylight on March 23.

Here are some interesting features of ICGS Vishwast:

• ‘Vishwast’ means ‘Trustworthy’ 
• the first of the new class of Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV – Yard No 1203) indigenously designed and built by Goa Shipyard Ltd.
• the only vessel of this class in the world with facilities for Pollution Control, Fire Fighting, Search & Rescue and Patrolling provided in a 90 metre vessel.
• was formally commissioned by the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri Shri AK Antony at the Goa Shipyard Ltd. on March 17.
• 90 metres long, propelled by two MTU engines, can cruise at a maximum speed of 26 knots.
• has an endurance of 4500 nautical miles.
• has an Integrated Bridge System (IBS) equipped with state-of-the art navigation and communication equipment.
• also has Platform Management System.
• capable of operating a helicopter.
• weapon – 30 mm gun.

Here are some photographs of ICGS Vishwast induction ceremony from Goa Shipyard Ltd.

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India celebrates April 05 of the year as National Maritime Day. The celebration goes for a week and 47th National Maritime Week celebration has started with the theme  “Seafaring – A Career of Opportunities” as International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has declared this year as “2010: Year of the Seafarer”.

On this occasion Capt.K.Vivekanand, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Vels University, Chennai has stated that in the next five years 1.98 lakh crew members and officers are required to man approximately 50,000 ships sailing around the world (as per estimates).

Here is the press release from Press Information Bureau issued on this occasion:

On the occasion of inauguration of 47th National Maritime Week, the Minister of Shipping Shri G.K. Vasan pinned the first Merchant Navy Flag on the wearing apparel of the Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh. Shri Mukul Roy, Minister of State for Shipping, Shri K. Mohandas, Secretary (Shipping), Capt. PVK Mohan, Chairman, National Shipping Board, Ms. Lakshmi Venkatachalam, Director General of Shipping, Shri S. Hajara, CMD, Shipping Corporation of India Ltd. and Shri Abdul Gani Serang, Secretary General, National Union of Seafarers of India were also present on the occasion.

National maritime celebrations are weeklong celebrations, which culminate on 5 of April to commemorate the voyage of the first Indian Ship “S.S. Loyalty” from Mumbai to London on 5 April 1919. The National Maritime Day is celebrated every year on 5 April. The theme for this year is “Seafaring – A Career of Opportunities” which complements International Maritime Organisation’s theme for the year “2010: Year of the Seafarer”.

Historically, the National Welfare Board for Seafarers, a statutory body constituted under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958, under the Chairmanship of the Union Minister of Transport, recommended at its Third Meeting held at Madras on 11th January, 1964 that the 5th April every year be celebrated as the National Maritime Day. It was on 5 April 1919 that the first Indian Steamship “S.S. LOYALTY” of M/s.Scindia Steam Navigation Co. Ltd., Mumbai, ventured into international water on her maiden voyage from Mumbai to London (UK). Several important maritime countries like U.S.A., Japan and Germany celebrate national Maritime Day.

The principal objective of celebrating the Day is to enable the public to know more intimately about the activities of the Indian Shipping Industry and the important role it plays in the economy of the country. The need for shipping industry and the requirement of seafarers are highlighted in various. Shipping has been called as ‘Silent Service’ as most of the shipping activity takes place away from the land and along with country’s sea borders, i.e. at the ports. In the vast sub-continent of India, the public at large has very limited opportunities to opportunities to observe for themselves the yeoman service rendered by the Indian Shipping for the promotion of the economic well being of the country. The observance of the National Maritime Day has, therefore served in bringing the people closer to the shipping industry and enabling them to participate in the celebrations and to share in the sense of pride and achievement at the rapid strides made by the Indian Shipping during the last five decades since the attainment of independence.

National martime day celebrations are held at all major ports viz. Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Goa, Visakhapatnam and Cochin and certain other ports like Kandla, Jamnagar, Paradip, Mangalore, Tuticorin, Karwar, etc. It includes laying of wreath at Seamen’s Memorials and pay tributes homage to seamen who laid down their lives while on high seas in 1st and 2nd world wars. On Merchant Navy Flag Day at New Delhi 1st Merchant Navy Flag is pinned on the wearing apparel of the Prime Minister of India by the Minister for Shipping. This practice has been prevalent from 2002 onwards. At the State level on Merchant Navy Flag Day the first Miniature Merchant Navy Flag is pinned on the wearing apparel of the Governor of Maharashtra by the Director General of Shipping in Mumbai.

Here are some photographs from Press Information Bureau.

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UniverCell Chennai IndiBlogger Meet was conducted on March 20 with four hours of interactive session and fun. It was nice to be in this meeting again after June 2008.

Some interesting features of this IndiBlogger meet are:

• Conducted at GRT Convention Center, T.Nagar, Chennai from 1430 hours to 1830 hours.
• Around 200 bloggers participated in this event.
• Every blogger had an opportunity for self introduction (30 seconds of fame) to the audience.
• Fun filled interactive session for more than an hour.
• Discussion on Traditional Media and Blogging.
• Sponsored by UniverCell, Chennai:
  • UniverCell is looking for bloggers to be part of their blog (about mobile phones) to be launched by them.
  • Planning to conduct a contest to indentify the right bloggers through this IndiBlogger meets at Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi and Bangalore.

The meeting was followed by more interaction with bloggers during tea break and distribution of T-Shirts to all bloggers.

Here are some photographs covering the IndiBlogger Meet.

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This year Indian fishermen attended the Annual Feast of St.Anthony’s church, at the Kachchativu (Katchatheevu) Island on February 27 and 28 as the war on terrorism is over in Sri Lanka. The feast was attended by both Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen and devotees. Due to war against terrorism, the feast was not attended by Indian fishermen since 1983. Indian Coast Guard and the Sri Lanka Navy coordinated the event successfully.

Some interesting features of this event are:

• Kachchativuwhich is located (9°23′ N, 79°32′ E) closer to Indo-Sri Lanka International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).
• St Antony’s (Anthoniyar) Church was established in 1905 in Kachchativu. As per the 1974 Treaty between India and Sri Lanka, the Island was ceded to Sri Lanka (by India) ensuring the free access for the pilgrimages from India.
• 3387 Indian fishermen and devotees left Rameshwaram in 114 boats on February 27.
• Local devotees numbering 824 also participated in the feast.

Here is a photograph of the annual feast from Sri Lanka Navy.

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Here is an amazing vehicle “Amfibus” to integrate road ways and water ways. A two day demonstration of this amphibious bus was conducted on February 08 on the River Clyde in Scotland to evaluate the performance. The vehicle would operate on road as a coach (bus) from Braehead to the Renfrew ferry slipway. Then the same vehicle would operate as a ferry by using the existing slipway to reach Yoker by crossing the River Clyde. Thereafter it would reach Clydebank by road.

The demonstration was conducted by Stagecoach Group, a leading international public transport group having extensive operations in the UK, United States and Canada. The vehicle Amfibus has already undergone trials in Rotterdam harbour, Netherlands.

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The Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Navy, Vice Admiral Nyan Tun arrived India on February 20 on a five day visit. It may be recalled that Myanmar Navy participated in the recently concluded Milan 2010 hosted by Indian Navy. India also shares border of over 1,600 kilo metres with Myanmar.

Here is a photograph from Press Information Bureau.

Vice Admiral Nyan Tun with the Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Nirmal Verma, in New Delhi on February 22.

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A national seminar “Coast WATCH 2010 – Coastal Security of India” was held on February 24 at Seafarer’s Club, Chennai. The seminar enlightened the audience on Coastal Security scenario, its challenges and required responses.

Some interesting features of the seminar are:

• Conducted by the Department of Strategic Studies, University of Madras and the National Maritime Foundation, Chennai Chapter.
• Coast WATCH focused on Wherewithal, Attitudes, Technology, Coordination, Human resources relating to Coastal Security of India.
• The Seminar:
  • Inaugural session
    • Welcome Address was given by Prof Dr Gopalji Malviya – Head, Department of Strategic Studies, University of Madras.
    • Keynote Address was given by Vice Admiral Anurag G Thapliyal, AVSM, the Commandant, Naval Academy, Ezhimala.
    • Special Address was given by Mr Rajesh Das, IPS, Inspector General of Police, Coastal Security Group, Tamil Nadu.
  • Plenary I – Strategy and Policy: Chair – Rear Admiral Venkat Shankar, VSM, CI (Navy), DSSC.
  • Plenary II – Functional and Institutional Security: Chair – Commodore S Shekhar, Regional Director, National Maritime Foundation, Chennai Chapter.
  • Plenary III – Systems and Technology: Chair – Mr R Ramamurthy, President, Cyber Society of India.
• The seminar was followed by an Open House: Moderator – Captain H Balakrishnan, Navy Foundation.
• Convenors
  • Dr S Utham Kumar Jamadhagni, Assistant Professor, Department of Strategic Studies, University of Madras.
  • Commander R Venkatesan, National Maritime Foundation, Chennai Chapter.

The seminar and the response from the audience highlighted certain thought provoking issues:

• During rough seas, sea sickness is bound to affect the performance of marine police as they are not professional seafarers.
• Need to recognise the role of fishermen in coastal security and to integrate them in coastal security operations like Territorial Army.
• Fully using Customs and Police (as they have informers) intelligence to enhance coastal security.
• Using acoustic sensors to detect low flying aircrafts along with coastal radars being installed in light houses.
• Use of GenKey’s Biocryptic Identity Management System to identify fishermen at sea with handheld units. This helps to instantly and accurately identify militants entering the coast through sea.
• All citizens need to have awareness on security.

However,

• developing indigenous nano-satellites by ISRO (like Nanosatellite Tracking of Ships – NTS in Canada) as a long term, cost effective solution for coastal security needs has to be taken up.
• developing marine mammals to detect underwater threat as a means to counter threats through underwater and means to identify and eliminate threats from armed Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones – launched from sea) need to be taken up.

Here are some photographs covering the seminar.

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On February 19, MiG-29K aircraft carrier based multi purpose fighter aircrafts have joined the Indian Navy as “Black Panthers”. The induction ceremony was held in the presence of the Defence Minister, Shri A. K. Antony at INS Hansa, Vasco da Gama, Goa. The ceremony was also attended by a Russian delegation led by Industry and Trade Minister Viktor Khristenko.

The aircrafts would be operating from INS Hansa till the arrival of INS Vikramaditya (expected to be delivered in 2012 by Russia).

Some interesting features of MiG-29K Fulcrum-D carrier-based fighter jets to Indian Navy are:

• Russia and India signed a contract in 2004 for the supply of 12 single-seat MiG-29K and four two-seat MiG-29KUB by 2009 as part of a $1.5 billion deal to deliver INS Vikramaditya to Indian Navy (ex Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier being refitted in Russia)
  • the contract also has an option to supply additional 30 fighters by 2015.
  • the contract for the jets also include the procurement of hardware for pilot training and aircraft maintenance, flight simulators and interactive ground and sea-based training systems.
• In September 2008, Indian Navy’s pilots commenced their five-month training course for MiG-29K in Russia.
• First supply of two MiG-29K and two MiG-29KUB fighters in a knocked down condition reached India in December 2009.
• The aircraft
  • 15% of the aircraft uses composite materials
  • has folding wings to suit carrier based operations.
  • has substantially reduced radar signature.
  • has Digital-Fly-By-Wire (DFBW) control system with multiple redundancy system.
  • belongs to generation: 4++
  • the pilot’s helmet is equipped with advanced features permitting the pilot to shoot a target by merely looking at it.

Here are some photographs from Press Information Bureau.

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