India sends ship for National Day celebrations |25 June 2022
INS Kolkata
Based on the invite from the government of the Republic of Seychelles to participate in a military parade to commemorate the 46th anniversary of their Independence Day, Indian Naval Ship Kolkata is scheduled to visit Port Victoria from June 26 to 30, 2022.
The ship will field a platoon of 30 sailors led by an officer to participate in the parade alongside the Seychelles platoons in the spirit of solidarity on this special occasion for Seychelles.
As part of the National Day celebrations, the ship will schedule open visits and will also be carrying out philanthropic activities at homes for the elderly and orphanages.
The Indian naval ceremonial band embarked on the ship will also participate in this momentous occasion. The band will also present a grand performance for the population of Seychelles in the evening July 6, 2022.
INS Kolkata is the lead ship of the indigenously designed and constructed Project 15-A class of destroyers built by M/s Mazagaon Dockyard Ltd, and displaces more than 7500 tonnes with speed over 30 knots.
She is equipped with the latest weapons and is capable of accomplishing a wide variety of missions.
The ship is part of the Western Fleet and is based at the Western Naval Command of the Indian Navy at Mumbai.
At the helm of the ship is the commanding officer, Captain Manmeet Singh Khurana, who is assisted by a team of over 300 professionally and highly motivated men of the Indian Navy.
During this port visit, the commanding officer and the ship’s crew will interact with various authorities from the government of Seychelles and the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF).
The ship is carrying two Dornier engines as received from M/s Hindustan Aeronautical Limited for trans-shipment to Seychelles Air Force.
In addition, the ship is also carrying technical spares required for maintenance of Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG) ships.
Post visit, INS Kolkata will undertake joint surveillance of Seychelles’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in areas selected by SCG, with SCG personnel onboard.
The visit of INS Kolkata to Seychelles will further strengthen defence cooperation between both countries and is in consonance with the SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region) vision of the government of India.
Press release from the India high commission