A fleet of Indian Naval ships Tir and Sujata and Coast Guards vessel Varuna and two Sail Training Ships entered Port Victoria in Seychelles today to embark upon a training programme for Naval and Coast Guard trainees.
The First Training Squadron forms part of Southern Naval Command (SNC) and comprises INS Tir, Sujata, Shardul, ICGS Varuna and two Sail Training Ships Sudarshini and Tarangini, all of which have been built in India. Senior Officer of the 1st Training Squadron, Captain SR Ayyar, is embarked on board INS Tir.
The primary aim of the First Training Squadron is to impart sea training to Naval and Coast Guard trainees (within a time period of 24 weeks). All the trainees are trained in seamanship, navigation, ship-handling, boat work, technical aspects etc, whilst being exposed to the rigours of life at sea, so as to earn their 'sea legs'.
The ships shall remain in harbour till October 4 and shall enter again on October 9 for a couple of days.
The Southern Naval Command (SNC) is the Training Command of the Indian Navy, which provides both basic and advanced training to officers and sailors of the Indian Navy.
India and island country of Seychelles have close, long-standing relations going back 36 years, covering a wide spectrum of activities and interactions, which have strengthened over recent years.
Based on a request from the Government of Seychelles, Indian navy's ships are regularly deployed to Seychelles and adjacent waters for surveillance of its Exclusive Economic Zone and to bolster its maritime security.
These deployments provide opportunities for extensive operational and training engagements and contribute to the maintenance of good order at sea.
The present deployment of the First Training Squadron to Seychelles would further cement the close relations between the two nations and the two navies.
