Western Naval Command News

Fourteen people have died as a barge sank off India's west coast after a powerful cyclone barrelled into the country, authorities said on Wednesday, while Indian navy ships and aircraft scoured waters to locate scores of other missing personnel."We can confirm that 14 bodies have been recovered from the rescue operation of barge P305" that sank off the coast of Mumbai, Mehul Karnik, chief public relations officer, Western Naval Command told Reuters.Indian navy ships and aircraft…

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigeria Navy are set for a regime of improved information sharing as arrangements to integrate the Command, Control, Computer Communication and Information (C4i) Cente of the Deep Blue Project along with the Falcon Eye of the Nigerian Navy.The Director General of NIMASA Dr. Bashir Jamoh said, “Just like we did by ensuring that our Special Mission Vessels are manned by men of the Nigerian Navy, we are also looking at the possibility of effectively linking the C4i center at kikiriki with the Falcon Eye of the Nigerian Navy.

Indian Naval Ship Tarkash made a port call at Cadiz, Spain for a three days visit in continuation of the Indian Navy’s overseas deployment to Africa, Europe and Russia.The port call by INS Tarkash at Cadiz is a demonstration of India’s warm ties with Spain and its commitment to enhance operational reach, maritime security and its solidarity with friendly nations.INS Tarkash had participated in bilateral exercise KONKAN-19 with Royal Navy ship HMS Defender prior entering Cadiz harbour.INS Tarkash commanded by Captain Sathish Vasudev, is a state of the art warship of the Indian Navy equipped with a versatile range of weapons and sensors…

The Prime Minister of India,  Narendra Modi commissioned INS Kalvari (S-21), the first of the six Scorpene class submarines built under Project 75 (Kalvari Class) into the Indian Navy at an impressive ceremony held at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai on 14 December 2017. The event marked the formal induction into the Navy of the first of the six submarines being constructed at Mazagon Docks Ltd., in collaboration with the French builder M/s Naval Group. Upon arrival at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, the Prime Minster was received by the Chief of the Naval Staff. The Prime Minster was presented a 100-man Guard of Honour and was introduced to the ship’s officers and other dignitaries present.

The Maritime History Society (MHS) under the aegis of the Western Naval Command, is being organised an intellectually stimulating two day seminar on the theme, “Indian Maritime Wisdom” on 05 & 06 October 2017. This seminar is the Thirty- Eighth edition of a long running series that began in 1980 and the inaugural session was held at the INHS Asvini Auditorium, Near RC Church, Colaba in South Mumbai on 05 October 2017. The Chairman of MHS, Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, set the tone in his inaugural address by capturing the essence of India’s Maritime Heritage as an essential knowledge scape for any mariner interested in the cause of National Maritime Resurgence.

INS Tarasa, a Water Jet Fast Attack Craft was commissioned into the Indian Navy by Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command at the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai on 26 September 2017. At an impressive commissioning ceremony, Vice Admiral Luthra expressed confidence that the new INS Tarasa will discharge her duties with élan and resolve, and bring laurels to the Western Naval Command and the Nation. Complimenting the designers, builders, engineers, overseers, and the officers and the men whose efforts have fructified in the commissioning of the ship, he said that the ship is of proven design, has good endurance…

In continuation of the Indian Navy’s overseas deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and West Coast of Africa, three Indian warships INS Mumbai, Trishul, and Aditya, arrived at Toulon, France for a three day visit. The ships were warmly received by the Administration in Toulon and the French Navy at Toulon Naval Base in coordination with the Embassy of India. The visiting ships are a part of the Indian Navy’s Western Naval Command and the Task Group is headed by Rear Admiral RB Pandit, the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet, who is flying his flag on the guided missile destroyer, INS Mumbai. On completion of the visit at Toulon, bilateral exercise Varuna between the Indian Navy and the French Navy is scheduled from 24 to 30 April 2017.

Admiral Vladimir Korolev, Commander-in-Chief, Russian Federation Navy along with a four member Russian Navy delegation is on an official visit to India from 15 to 18 March 2017. The visit aims to consolidate bilateral naval relations between India and Russia, as also to explore new avenues for naval cooperation. During his visit, the Commander-in-Chief of Russian Navy held bilateral discussions with Admiral Sunil Lanba, PVSM, AVSM, ADC, Chief of the Naval Staff and other senior officials of the Indian Navy. The Admiral is also scheduled to meet the Hon’ble Minister of Defence, the Chief of the Air Staff, the Chief of the Army Staff and the Defence Secretary as part of his official engagements in New Delhi.

INS Tillanchang, a Water Jet Fast Attack Craft (WJFAC), was commissioned into the Indian Navy  by Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, AVSM, VSM, the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command at Karwar naval base in Karnataka. It is the third ship of four follow-on WJFACs being built by the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Kolkata. The first two ships of the class, IN ships Tarmugli and Tihayu were commissioned in 2016 and are based at Visakhapatnam. The ship has been indigenously designed and built and is an upgrade from the Chetlat class of Fast Attack Craft that the Indian Navy possesses. Speaking on the occasion…

Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) embarked ships of the Indian Fleet (both Western & Eastern) over the last two days to review the ongoing Annual Theatre Level Readiness and Operational Exercise (TROPEX) 2017 which is presently underway since 24 January 2017. The CNS was accompanied by General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Army Staff and Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command. The CNS witnessed a host of exercises viz. Gunnery shoots, Surface to Air missile engagements, Brahmos firing and operations of the combined Fleet in a complex multi threat environment including sub surface and air threats.

Indian Naval ships Kolkata and Aditya, under the Command of the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet, are in Mauritius since 1st September 2016, in a demonstration of India's commitment to its ties with Mauritius and to promote maritime security in the Indian Ocean region. INS Kolkata is commanded by Captain Rahul Vilas Gokhale and INS Aditya is commanded by Captain Vidyanshu Srivastava. The ships are part of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet based at Mumbai under the Western Naval Command and are on a two month long deployment in the Western Indian Ocean. The four-day visit of the two naval ships will contribute to further strengthen…

In a demonstration of India’s commitment to its ties with Seychelles and maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region, Indian Naval Ships Kolkata, Trikand and Aditya under the Command of the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet, Rear Admiral Ravneet Singh,NM have arrived at Port Victoria on a two day visit, says a government press release. INS Kolkata is commanded by Captain Rahul Vilas Gokhale, INS Trikand is commanded by Captain Arjun Dev Nair and INS Aditya is commanded by Captain Vidyanshu Srivastava. The ships are part of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet based at Mumbai under the Western Naval Command and are on a two month long deployment in the Western Indian Ocean. During the visit, the IN ships would engage with the Seychelles People Defence Force on professional issues.

On receiving the distress call motor tanker  MV Infinity I around 20 nautical miles from Goa on Wednesday evening, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) salvaged the vessel, its cargo and rescued 14 crew by dispatching ships from Goa. MV Infinity I reported water ingress and continuous listing (nautical term for tilting) to starboard (right side of the ship). The vessel had reported that the list is increasing despite ship's de-watering efforts. Such emergencies can lead to the sinking of the ship. The 83 m long MT Infinity-1 is an oil/asphalt carrier and was on coastal passage from Kandla port in Gujarat to Karwar in Karnataka with a 14-member Indian crew. She was carrying approximately 1750 tonnes of Asphalt. Indian Naval Ship Trikand from Western Naval Command immediately responded to the call.

INS 'Sardar Patel', India's latest Naval establishment was commissioned at Porbandar in the Saurashtra region by Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel. The strategically important new Naval base, named after India's first Home Minister Vallabhbhai Patel, would be a key frontal base supporting ships, submarines and aircraft of Western Naval Command operating along the 1,600-km-long coastline of Gujarat. Anandiben unveiled the plaque and read the commissioning warrant of the new base, second in the state, after INS Dwarka near Okha. INS Sardar Patel is a strategic forward operating naval base in Gujarat and would simultaneously provide vital logistical and administrative support for all "colocated units in Gujarat area", said Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Robin Dhowan.

Three more Immediate Support Vessels (ISV) will be commissioned into the Western Naval Command by early next year, taking the total strength to 17. The latest batch of four ISVs - small and fast weaponised speedboat-like vessels - was commissioned a fortnight ago in a ceremony where Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis was also present. On the occasion, Fadnavis said that the ISV will enhance the capacity of the Indian Navy to provide better security. ISVs are armed with heavy machine guns and state-of-the-art radar-navigational equipment. The induction and deployment of these ships will augment the ongoing efforts to bolster coastal security and provide protection to offshore assets from asymmetric threats.

The Ghana Armed Forces and the United States Maritime Forces have completed a joint maritime operation, the Africa Maritime Law Enforcement Partnership (AMLEP), as part of the Africa Partnerships Program (APS). The operation brought together representatives from Ghana’s Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, the Marine Police Unit of the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Navy, the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coastguard on Spearhead, the U.S. Navy’s first Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV). The operation succeeded in detecting three vessels that were violating Ghanaian maritime law and cited the violators for follow-on judicial action. A statement issued by the US Embassy…

U.S. and Ghanaian and maritime forces completed Africa Maritime Law Enforcement Partnership (AMLEP) 2015 operations, Feb. 24, 2015. The Military Sealift Command’s joint high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) and an embarked combined law enforcement detachment (LEDET), working in tandem with Ghanaian navy’s Western Naval Command Maritime Operations Center (MOC) and patrol vessels, were able to detect three vessels that were violating Ghanaian maritime law and cite them for follow-on judicial action. The combined Ghana-U.S. efforts—another example of the Global Network of Navies—improves interoperability between both nations and helps deter illicit activity that threatens freedom and security in the global commons.

The Indian Naval Ship Tabar, which is currently in the Gulf of Aden for Anti-Piracy Surveillance and Patrol Operations, encountered a pirate vessel, 285 NM South West of Salalah (Oman) on the evening of 18 Nov 08, with two speed boats in tow. This vessel was similar in description to the 'Mother Vessel' mentioned in various Piracy bulletins. INS Tabar closed the vessel and asked her to stop for investigation. On repeated calls, the vessel's threatening response was that she would blow up the Naval Warship if it closed her. Pirates were seen roaming on the upper deck of this vessel with guns and Rocket Propelled Grenade launchers. The vessel continued its threatening calls and subsequently fired upon INS Tabar.

The Nigerian Navy handed over two ships arrested for oil bunkering in 2003 on the order of the presidency following a court ruling, according to a report on AllAfrica.com. But the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command , Commodore John Kpokpogri who handed over the ships - Mt Tina and Mt Glory on behalf of the Chief of Naval staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ganiyu Adekeye gave the owners 24 hours to remove the ships from the territorial waters or face the full weight of the law. Kpokpogri made it clear to the ship owners, Petrostar Shipping Company that the Navy, in fulfilling its statutory function, would still arrest the ships if found to be engaging in unwholesome activities.

The Indian Navy has set up a constant monitoring system to maintain vigil on the increasing traffic of merchant ships in the city, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Naval Command Vice-Admiral Jagjit Singh Bedi has announced. The IMO had directed merchant ships of all countries to equip their ships with an automatic identification system (AIS), which gets transferred to the monitoring station through high frequency channels and satellites. Source: DNA

The Indian Naval Commanders' Conference meets annually to deliberate upon major operational issues with regard to the defense of the nation's maritime interest, coastal security, defense of national assets at sea, naval strategy, its own operational and acquisition plans and the course corrections required to remain relevant with the times as also to maintain synergy with the other two service.  The conference is being held at the Western Naval Command Headquarters' at Mumbai from May 7-9 2008. The conference would be inaugurated by Admiral Sureesh Mehta, Chief of the Naval Staff and would be attended by the highest echelons of the navy from the Integrated Headquarters at , three command headquarters and two fleets.