M A I N   N E W S

Greatest maritime show begins
Narayanan takes the salute

Mumbai, February 17
The eighth International Fleet Review (IFR) here got off to a spectacular start with President K.R. Narayanan declaring that security of seas and oceans were necessary for independence and prosperity of nations as also the world peace.

“The Indian Navy is committed to the international effort to counter piracy in this oceanic region and is coordinating anti-piracy efforts with Asean and other South-East Asian nations and Japan”, he said while reviewing the maritime show.

Nearly 70 vessels — 25 foreign ships from 19 countries and 45 Indian ships — all dressed in overalls with colourful flags, took part in the greatest maritime show, witnessed by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and top naval dignitaries from various countries as the President reviewed the parade off the Gateway of India from the Presidential yacht INS Sukanya.

Congratulating the Indian Navy for marking the historic occasion and thanking all naval ships, he said, “It is today an indisputable fact that the independence and prosperity of the nations and peace and tranquility of the world hinged upon the peace and security of the seas and the oceans.”

The review had its picturesque moments when a mobile column of eight corvettes streamed passed the Presidential yacht at a relative speed of 25 nautical miles.

Lauding the creditable record of the Indian Navy, he said it has participated in UN peace missions and actively got involved in combating piracy on the seas.

The colourfully dressed foreign vessels with countries’ flags flying high, included gigantic French nuclear-powered submarine Perle, Russian vessel Admiral Vinogradov, Japanese Amagiri, USA’s Cowpens and South Africa’s Drakensberg.

Referring to the ships, that have brought relief materials for quake-stricken people of Gujarat, he said they were not only bridges of friendship among nations, but a humanitarian bridge to all those affected by natural calamity.

Inspecting the 150-men guard of honour, followed by a 21-gun salute, Mr Narayanan cast off from south break water at 9.30 a.m. and passed through 7 columns of ships.

The Presidential column comprising a standby yacht ins Suvarna and two minesweepers, ins Pondicherry and ins Bhavnagar gently sailed across the seven columns of foreign and Indian ships docked at the anchorage off the Gateway. The Presidential yacht also moved across the pride of India, Sindhushastra, the Brahmaputra, Godavari, Viraat, Himgiri, Kora and ins Delhi, besides scores of other Indian vessels docked at the anchorage. PTI