In a bid to strengthen navy-to-navy ties with Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), INS Sudarshini began its nine-nation voyage, extending India’s hand of friendship.
Launched as country’s goodwill ambassador at sea, the ship set off from Chennai Port amid a drizzle and the naval band played ‘Sara Jahan Se Acha Hindustan Hamara’.
Vice-Admiral and director general naval projects, V K Namballa, Ministry of External Affairs joint secretary (ASEAN) Renu Pall, Naval-Officer-In-Charge (Tamil Nadu and Puducherry) Commodore Amar K Mahadevan and heads of missions of ASEAN countries bid adieu to ship and its crew, which began its journey from Kochi on September 15. During the 127-day sailing odyssey, INS Sudarshini, the latest tall sail training ship (STS) of Indian Navy, will give a leg-up to the defence ties with Indonesia, Myanmar, Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand, a ministry of external affairs (MEA) source said.
Manned by five officers, including the commanding officer of vessel N Shyam Sundar, 31 sailors and 30 naval and coast guard cadets, the ship would trace the ancient route undertaken by the Cholas to south east Asia. The vessel is expected to log 12,217 nautical miles before berthing back at Kochi on March 29 next year. Named after the Sanskrit word Sudarshini meaning ‘a beautiful lady’, the ship is designed by famous naval architect and British national Colin Mudie and was built in Goa shipyard. It carries a total of 20 sails with a total sail area of 965 square metres.
The entire voyage will be undertaken on sail, wind permitting.
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