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INS Tabar hosts I-Day ceremony at Portsmouth

During the stay in harbour, the harbour phase of the exercise progressed from 13 to 16 August. Several professional interactions, sharing of best practices and harbour drills were also conducted…reports Asian Lite News.

Indian Navy’s frontline frigate, INS Tabar arrived at Portsmouth harbour last week for a good will visit and to undertake the Annual Bilateral Exercise Konkan between the Indian Navy and Royal Navy.

On the occasion of India’s 75th Independence Day, the National Flag was unfurled at the Indian Navy frontline frigate docked at Portsmouth harbour.

This year’s edition annual bilateral naval exercise ‘Exercise Konkan’ commenced on 12 August when Indian Navy and Royal Navy met for exercises at sea, before Tabar entered Portsmouth harbour.

During the stay in harbour, the harbour phase of the exercise progressed from 13 to 16 August. Several professional interactions, sharing of best practices and harbour drills were also conducted.

The exercise will continue at sea till today, wherein Tabar will meet up with the frontline Royal Navy ship along with shore based aircraft, for air defence exercises, anti-submarine procedures, replenishment at sea activities, and communication drills at Sea.

A highlight of the exercise will be the cross deck helicopter operations, wherein helicopters will carry out landing procedures.

High Commissioner HE Gaitri Issar Kumar said: “The Indian Navy and Royal Navy share unique historical ties. They have been conducting the bilateral naval exercise, ‘Konkan’, every year since 2004. We have been looking forward to the goodwill visit of INS Tabar, a front-line frigate of the Indian Navy. Its joint exercises, along with HMS Westminster of the Royal Navy are aimed at enhancing interoperability, synergy and cooperation between both navies.”

“I welcome Captain Mahesh Mangipudi and all Ranks of INS Tabar. I have no doubt that their visit to Portsmouth, hosted by the Royal Navy will contribute to further strengthening the friendly contacts and cooperation between both Navies. I wish both INS Tabar and HMS Westminster a very successful engagement,” she added.

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Indian Navy, INS Tabar participates in exercise with Norwegian Navy

The exercise was mutually beneficial in enhancing interoperability and towards consolidating combined operations against maritime threats, added the statement…reports Asian Lite News.

In a landmark first for the Indian Navy, INS Tabar participated in a Maritime Partnership Exercise with the Royal Norwegian Naval Ship HNoMS Storm, a Skjold class FAC (M) on Sunday.

A range of operations like surface manoeuvers, Visit Board Search and Seizure exercise (VBSS) and vertical replenishment by helicopter were exercised, said a statement of the Ministry of Defence.

The exercise was mutually beneficial in enhancing interoperability and towards consolidating combined operations against maritime threats, added the statement.

As part of its ongoing deployment, INS Tabar, had entered Bergen harbour on August 5.

Upon arrival, the ship was received by the Liaison Officer of Royal Norwegian Navy and the Indian Defence Attaché.

Chief of Royal Norwegian Naval Fleet Commodore Trond Gimmingsrud, and Deputy Harbour Master of Bergen Harbour Christian Hafstad, had visited the ship and interacted with the Commanding Officer on jetty as per prevailing Covid-19 protocols.

INS Tabar entered Bergen harbour, #Norway on 5 Aug.
On completion of landmark first port visit for #IndianNavy, INS Tabar (pic 1) participated in a Maritime Partnership Exercise with Royal Norwegian Navy ship, HNoMS Storm (pic 3), a Skjold class FAC(M) on 8 Aug.@NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/xfZ0OHn7U4
— Mayank 🇮🇳 (@scribesoldier) August 10, 2021

The Norwegian officials expressed their happiness on receiving an Indian warship and hoped to see more such similar engagements in future to consolidate the relations between the two countries.

INS Tabar is on a four-month deployment across Africa and Europe to participate in joint exercises with friendly navies and enhance military cooperation through naval engagements.

During its deployment, the Indian Naval Ship has already called on ports in Egypt, Italy, Spain and France and has conducted naval exercises with the navies of these countries.

On 29 July, INS Tabar had travelled to Stockholm, Sweden on a three-day goodwill visit. It also conducted a Partnership Exercise at sea with the Swedish Navy on departure from Stockholm. (India News Network)

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