Jaitley commissions two Coast Guard ships

Defence Minister Arun Jaitley Saturday commissioned two ships of the Indian Coast Guard and toured the INS Viraat aircraft carrier here.

On his first visit to an Indian Navy establishment, the Western Naval Command, Jaitley commissioned the ICGS Achook and ICGS Agrim, built by Cochin Shipyard Ltd.

Visiting INS Viraat, he was received by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Robin Dhowan, who briefed him on a wide variety of issues, including the recent salvage of the ill-fated submarine INS Sindhurakshak.

The submarine, which suffered an explosion followed by a fire, killing 18 sailors including three officers Aug 14 last year, was retrieved from its watery grave after 10 months, three days ago.