Indian aircraft carrier hosts CM, legislators for "day at sea"

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, MPs, legislators and top bureaucrats today spent a day at sea, on board the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, off Mumbai coast, witnessing a naval exercise.

"Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command, hosted Fadnavis and other visitors, which also included Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar, Chairman of the Legislative Council, and Haribhau Bagade, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly," an official said.

The dignitaries were on board frontline Navy warships of the Western Fleet for the exercise, in which INS Vikramaditya along with warships INS Chennai, INS Kolkata, INS Trishul and INS Teg of the Western Fleet participated, the official said.

"Besides a detailed briefing on the role and scope of operations of the Western Naval Command, an Operational Demo was conducted for the embarked personnel. The exercises and live demonstration included a submarine demo by the recently commissioned submarine INS Kalvari and missile demo by INS Vidyut," he said.

"In addition, a Search and Rescue demo by SAR helicopters provided a clear insight into the complexities of rescue operations at sea, especially in higher sea states," the official said in a statement.

The shipborne Anti Submarine Warfare Seaking and AEW Kamov helicopters and the MiG 29K carrier borne fighter aircraft participated in an impressive air power demo.

The visitors were given a tour of the operational facilities and interacted with the ships company of INS Vikramaditya over lunch, to get a first hand exposure and sea experience on range and scope of activities undertaken by the Navy at sea, the official said.

Addressing the crew of INS Vikramaditya, Fadnavis congratulated the Navy for its gallant service to the nation and acknowledged the professionalism and fortitude of naval personnel in a challenging environment at sea, the official said.

"Fadnavis appreciated the armed forces' role in safeguarding the territorial, maritime and economic interests of the country and said that he and his colleagues were privileged to have spent a day at sea with the Western Fleet," he said.