Mexican naval ship on goodwill visit to Mumbai

Mexican Navy Ship, ARM Cuauhtemoc arrived here on Wednesday on a six-day goodwill trip and was accorded a welcome with traditional fanfare by the Indian Navy, an official said here.

Commanded by Capt Rafael Antonio Lagunes Arteaga, she has a complement of 40 officers, 13 petty offiers and 131 sailors on board.

However, the trip was not without tragedy.

On the afternoon of June 11, a female cadet on the sailing ship had fallen overboard into the Arabian Sea, around 560 nautical miles off Goa, when the ship was en route to Mumbai from Egypt's Port Said. Despite an extensive search by Indian ships and planes, she was not traced.

Capt Arteaga thanked the Indian Navy for the help extended by deploying naval aircraft P8I and INS Teg and INS Mysore for the missing cadet.

During their stay, Capt. Arteaga will call on Western Fleet Commander, Rear Admiral R. B. Pandit.

The crew of the sailing ship will also visit the INS Mumbai and take part in various sports and social events, besides interactions with Indian Navy personnel over the next six days.

Having last visited India in July 2002, the ARM Cuauhtemoc will depart for Singapore on June 26, the official said.

--IANS

qn/vd