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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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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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INS Deepak (Yard 6186), the first of the two Fleet Tankers being constructed by M/s Fincantieri Shipyard, Italy, was launched on February 12, at Muggiano. The double hulled tanker is expected to commence trials in April. Commissioning of the vessel is scheduled in India by end 2010.

The vessel was launched by Mrs Farida Khan, wife of the ambassador, His Excellency Shri Arif S. Khan, the Indian Ambassador in Rome.

Some interesting features of INS Deepak (photograph of INS Deepak from Shippingonline) are:

• 175 metres long, 25 wide and 19 high.
• has a displacement at full load of 27,500 tonnes.
• has propulsion system powered by two 10,000 kW diesel engines, shaft with adjustable pitch propellers.
• can reach maximum speed of 20 knots.
• has a flight deck for medium weight helicopters (up to 10 tons).
• has maximum capacity of is 250 including crew and additional forces.
• equipped to refuel four vessels at the same time.

Here is a photograph from Press Information Bureau.

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Indian Coast Guard observes Coast Guard Day every year on February 01, signifying the formation of Indian Coast Guard on February 01, 1977. To mark this occasion, this year at Chennai the Coast Guard Region East has conducted exercises off Chennai.

A Coast Guard Ball is also going to be held at Le Royal Meridien, Chennai on February 13.

Indian Coast Guard has its Head Quarters at New Delhi. Vast coast line of approximately 7500 km is guarded by the following four Coast Guard Regions:

• Coast Guard Region West,with Regional Head Quarters at Mumbai
• Coast Guard Region East,with Regional Head Quarters at Chennai
• Coast Guard Region Andaman & Nicobar islands,with Regional Head Quarters at Port Blair
• Coast Guard Region North West, with Regional Head Quarters at Gandhi Nagar, Gujarat (newly formed in 2009)

Here are some photographs of the exercise released by Press Information Bureau.

Chetak Helicopter of the Indian Coast Guard on splash target firing during the exercise.

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Indian Navy’s Milan 2010 a biennial meeting of navies from the Indian Ocean region/Asia-Pacific region commenced on February 05 at Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The four day event is being participated by 12 navies from Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam.

On this occasion, an international seminar on "Navies in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Operations" was also held on February 05.

Here is a photograph from Press Information Bureau.

Participants of the International Seminar on "Navies in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Operations" with the Lt. Governor of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lt. Gen. (Retd) Bhopender Singh and the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Nirmal Verma.

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PNS Shamsheer has now joined the Pakistan Navy fleet.

PNS Shamsheer (F 252), type F22P frigate built by China, was commissioned on December 19 at Shanghai. Before reaching Pakistan, the frigate visited Colombo on January 16. Vice Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe, Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy visited PNS Shamsheer and was warmly received by the Commanding Officer Captain Neimatullah.

Here are some photographs.

Commissioning of PNS Shamsheer at Shanghai, China. (Photograph taken from Pakistan Navy News Vol 23, December 2009)

PNS Shamseer at Colombo, Sri Lanka. (Photograph from Sri Lanka Navy)

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Ethiopian Airlines passenger plane flight ET- 409 with 90 people on board crashed into the Mediterranean Sea about two kilo metres from the sea shore shortly after take-off from Beirut airport on January 25. Eye witnesses report that the aircraft crashed into the sea as a ball of fire. Nobody has survived and rescue operations are going on to recover the dead. Divers are trying to recover the black box of the aircraft.

The aircraft Boeing 737-800 with registration number ET-ANB involved in the accident had undergone regular maintenance service last on December 25, 2009 and was declared safe and fit to fly. The pilot of flight ET409 had over 20 years of experience in flying various aircrafts over the expanded network of the airline.

Some disturbing reports available regarding the crash are:

• Ethiopian flight ET- 409 bound for Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) lost contact with the Lebanese air controllers shortly after take off from Beirut (Lebanon). The flight departed at 02:35 Lebanese time from Beirut International Airport.
• Aircraft carried 82 passengers and 8 Ethiopian Crew members. Out of the total passengers 23 are Ethiopian, 51 Lebanese, 1 Turkish, 1 French, 2 British, 1 Russian, 1 Canadian, 1 Syrian, 1 Iraqi nationals.
• A team comprising of 14 people from Ethiopian’s Safety & Emergency Response department, Medical Unit, Flight Operations, Maintenance & Engineering, the Ethiopian Civil Aviation and Ethiopian’s Chief Airline Security office has reached Beirut to provide additional support to the team in Beirut.
• The Lebanese Government is providing all support for the rescue operations carried out by Ministry of Transport including Lebanese Navy and the UN peace keeping force in the region.
• A team of Aircraft Accident Handling and Crisis Management experts will be traveling to Beirut from London. The team consisting of 8 people from BLAKE Emergency services is proceeding from London to Beirut to assist with the rescue mission and establish a family assistance center to help the families.

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A model of INS Shivalik is part of the tableau of Indian Navy to be displayed during the Republic Day Parade – 2010, at New Delhi on January 26. INS Shivalik (F 47) is getting ready for commissioning in a few months.

Here is the photograph from Press Information Bureau, taken during the full dress rehearsal of the Republic Day Parade-2010, in New Delhi on January 23.

View the big picture from Press Information Bureau.

Commander in Chief of Israel Navy, Vice Admiral Elizer Marom came on a three day visit to India on January 19.

He completed the IDF Naval Officers Course in 1975. He has further completed: Israel Navy’s Advanced Command Course, U.S. Navy Senior International Defense Management Program, MBA in Social Sciences. He became Commander in Chief of Israel Navy in 2007.

He had discussions with Admiral Nirmal Verma, Chief of Naval Staff in New Delhi on January 19.
Here is a photograph of his visit from Press Information Bureau.

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Here is the tragic story on the death of 23 year old Neha Chhikara, who was reported missing from Royal Caribbean’s cruise ship Monarch of the Seas on December 31, 2009 near the Bahamas in the Atlantic on New Year’s Eve.

More disturbing information available are:

• Neha Chhikara, a former air hostess was the wife of Ankit Dalal, a crewmember of the same cruise ship.
• Later it was found from the vessel’s security camera footage that she jumped overboard from the 11th deck of the vessel.
• Indian press reports that
  • the reason for her death as dowry harassment by Ankit Dalal who married her in 2008.
  • few hours before going overboard, she had sent an e-mail to her brother Anuj Chhikara in India that reads: “Ankit has been beating me up every day… I have lost the strength to live and am very depressed. I do not think he wants me to work on this ship. He has threatened me that he would get my appointment cancelled… I am under extreme torture…”
• U.S Coast Guard launched a search operation by deploying their aircrafts and Coast Guard Cutter Cormorant but she could not be located.
• Ankit Dalal reported about her disappearance only after nine hours of the incident, a possible reason for the unsuccessful search operations.

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Shrimati Pratibha Devisingh Patil, the President of India, the Supreme Commander of Armed Forces visited INS Viraat, aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy on December 23.

Here are some photographs of the visit from President of India’s website.

View a video clip (Audio in Hindi): President Pratibha Patil on board INS Viraat

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USS Nimitz (CVN 68) aircraft carrier, part of U.S. 5th Fleet carried out aircraft operations with Lt. Jon Sunderland dressed in a Santa suite on Christmas Day.

Here is an interesting photograph from U.S Navy. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class David Mercil/Released.

Here is another photograph from U.S Navy showing how sailors of USS Nimitz sort through 34,400 pounds of mail delivered on Christmas Eve. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class David Mercil/Released.

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MV Princess Chrisanta, the vessel used by LTTE for arms smuggling and human trafficking was taken over by Sri Lanka three weeks back and was brought to Colombo Port by Sri Lanka Navy on December 21. The vessel was successfully brought from a foreign country to Colombo Port by Sri Lanka Navy Captain DKP Dassanayaka and his team.

It is further reported that the vessel was seized on the basis of the information provided by LTTE chief arms procurer Kumaran Pathmanthan alias KP who is in the custody of the Sri Lankan authorities.

Some interesting features of MV Princess Chrisanta are:

• Vessel specifications:
  • IMO No: 8129931
  • Call Sign: 3EOO9
  • Type of ship: General Cargo Ship
  • Length: 89 metres
  • DWT: 4870
  • Year of build: 1981
  • Flag: Panama
• It is believed that a light helicopter launched from this vessel could have involved in an attempt to evacuate LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran before the army trapped him on the banks of the Nanthikadal lagoon in May 2009.

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