INS Shivalik Calls at Hai Phong, Vietnam
In a fine demonstration of the operational reach and pursuit of India's 'Look East' policy, the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet, under the Command of Rear Admiral Atul Kumar Jain, VSM, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, is on an operational deployment to the South China Sea and the North Western Pacific region. Three Eastern Fleet units, (frontline warships) departed Indian shores in mid June and have since been operating in the South China Sea and Western Pacific. The warships earlier participated in the Indo-Russian bilateral naval exercise INDRA 14 and the trilateral naval exercise MALABAR 14 with the US Navy and Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF), in the N W Pacific & Sea of Japan. As a part of this deployment, INS Shivalik, a guided missile stealth frigate, under the Command of Captain Puruvir Das NM, has arrived at Hai Phong on a three day goodwill visit. The visit is aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and enhancing inter- operability between navies of the two nations. During the stay in harbour, various activities are planned including official calls, reception on board ship, ship open to visitors, guided tours for Indian naval personnel and professional interaction between personnel of both the navies. On departure, the ship will exercise with Vietnamese Naval ships for improving inter-operability in communication, search and rescue procedures and other areas. The Eastern Fleet had earlier visited Hai Phong in May 2012. The ship along with two others INS Ranvijay, a guided missile destroyer and INS Shakti, a fleet- support ship, would return to India in mid Aug 14 after a two month long deployment.
INS Shivalik Calls at Hai Phong, Vietnam : Press Release : Indian Navy