INS Sudarshini to sail to mark 50 yrs of Indo-Singapore diplomatic relations

INS Sudarshini to sail to mark 50 yrs of Indo-Singapore diplomatic relations

                                                                                     

INDIAN Navy's sailing ship INS Sudarshini is set to sail from Kochi to Singapore next month 10 mark (he golden jubilee of bilateral ties between India and the island State in South-East Asia.

"To mark the completion of 50 years of diplomatic ties between India and Singapore, the Indian Navy has decided to set to sail INS Sudarshini to that countrv. We arc planning to leave Kochi by the end of next month," Commander T Kajasekhar, Commanding Officer of INS Sudarshini told PTI.

The ship would be open for visitors between January 19 and 23 next yearin Singapore, he said.

arlicrthisyear.Kxternal Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj kicked off year-longcele brations to mark fvears of establishment of India-Singapore diplomatic lies jointly   with   Singapore   Foreign Minister KShanmugam, who noted that India was one of the first countries to give diplomatic recognition to Singapore.To mark the feat, President Pranab Mukhcrjee and his Singapore counterpart Tony Tan would exchange state visits next year. Shanmugam had also said the year-long celebration would also include a Singapore festival in India and an Indian festival in Singapore. Annual bilateral trade has flourished in last decade from USD 42 billion in2003-04toUSI) 19.4 billion in 2013-14, notably since the signing of Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement in 2005.

Belonging to the First Training Squadron at the Southern Naval Command of the Indian Navy, INS Sudarshini is primarily engaged in training naval and NCC cadets on the seamanship but also goes on historic voyages around the world.

Sineeits official launchin 2011, the three-masted sailing ship with a barque rig has been on significant voyages of natio nal importance.

The 54-metrelong ship with 2 sails has been on a six-month voyage to nine ASEAN nations during 2012-13 retracing the ancient route taken by Indian mariners to South Hast Asia during the 18th century.

INS Sudarshini with a crew of five officers, 31 sailors and 'M) cadets can remain at sea for at least 20 days at a lime.

Posted in: News 2014