A Chinese Navy hospital ship arrived here on a visit, which saw the first ever interaction between medical services of the Chinese and the Indian Navy.
PLA Navy Hospital Ship ARK Peace was on a visit to Mumbai from August 6 to 12, a defence spokesperson said here today.
The ship was commanded by Capt Yu Dapeng and had a crew of 413 personnel. During the ship's stay, the senior officers of PLA Navy called on Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha, the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief and other senior officers of Western Naval Command.
The personnel of the ARK Peace and Naval Hospital Ship INHS Asvini of India interacted at the hospital and onboard the hospital ship. This is the first ever interaction between medical services of the two navies.
Ship's crew was also engaged in professional, social and recreational interactions with personnel of Western Naval Command.
The Indian Navy and PLA Navy have come a long way in institutionalising the defence relationship between the two countries, the spokesperson said.
ARK Peace was launched in 2007 and commissioned in 2008. The ship has eight operation theatres and 20 Intensive Care Units and is capable of performing 40 operations daily.
INHS Asvini was commissioned as the first hospital establishment of the Indian Navy on the September 18, 1951. Its history spans over two and a half centuries, when a Seamen's Hospital was set up for British troops in 1756.
