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Indian Naval Ships Tir and Sujata, alongwith Indian Coast Guard Ship Varuna, comprising the 1st Training Squadron, entered Port Victoria, Seychelles today 01 Oct 15 as part of their Overseas Deployment during Autumn Term 15. The ships shall remain in harbor till 04 Oct and shall enter again on 09 Oct 15 for a couple of days.

The First Training Squadron forms part of Southern Naval Command (SNC) and comprises Indian Naval Ships Tir, Sujata, Shardul, ICGS Varuna and two Sail Training Ships Sudarshini and Tarangini, all of which have been built in India. 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 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. Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba, PVSM, AVSM is presently the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command. The Indian Navy has also been providing training to personnel from friendly foreign countries for more than four decades, under which more than 13,000 personnel from over 40 countries have been trained. The Indian Navy’s focused approach for providing high quality training by constantly adapting to evolving tactics and technologies, has gained it a reputation of being one of the finest training destinations.

India and Seychelles have close, long-standing relations going back 36 years, covering a wide spectrum of activities and interactions, which have strengthened over recent years. The people of India and Seychelles have close cultural bonds and a shared vision of a democratic and pluralistic society. Based on a request from the Government of Seychelles, IN 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. Senior Officer of the 1st Training Squadron, Captain SR Ayyar, is embarked on board INS Tir.

DKS/CKP