As part of the bilateral co-operation between the Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), joint exercises were conducted off Kochi. This was the ninth in the series of such exercises conducted between the two navies since February 1993. The ships which took part in this exercise, included a submarine, guided missile frigate and an offshore patrol vessel of the Indian Navy and a missile corvette and two ASW patrol vessels of the RSN. Suitable aircraft and helicopters of the Indian Navy also participated in the exercise.

RAdm RP Suthan, Chief of Staff of the Southern Naval Command headed the Indian team while RAdm Sim Gim Guan, Fleet Commander of the RSN participated in the opening ceremony. Cmde MS Pavithran, Chief Staff Officer (Operations), Southern Naval Command and Maj Ricky Hi, Commanding Officer RSN headed the closing ceremony.

Indian Navy’s Signal School which imparts training in communications and electronic warfare celebrated its 44th anniversary. From its humble beginning in 1919 as a temporary Signal School, initially at Carnac Bunder and subsequently at other locations in Mumbai, the school was shifted to its permanent premises
in the Naval Base, Kochi and was finally commissioned as the Indian Navy’s Signal School on March 8, 1958.

The chief guest Cmde Brahma Swaroop, Naval Officer-in-Charge, Kerala and Lakshdweep, released the school’s professional magazine Callsign. The Officer-in-Charge, Signal School, Capt Anand Iyer laid a wreath at the Khukri memorial to pay homage to the personnel of the communication branch who laid down their lives while safeguarding their motherland. At a ceremonial parade that followed, ‘Proficiency and Best Instructor Awards’ were presented to the staff. The personnel and their families participated in a cultural programme which was also attended by retired officers and sailors of the communication branch.

Seven Naval officers and two Coast Guard officers of the 55th Observers Course were awarded ‘Wings’ by RAdm RP Suthan, Chief of Staff of the Headquarters, Southern Naval Command, at the passing-out parade held at INS Garuda, Kochi. The officers of the course received training in anti submarine warfare, air warfare, tactics and electronic warfare besides air navigation and flying procedures. This training qualifies them to function as airborne tacticians and mission controllers onboard maritime reconnaissance and anti submarine warfare aircraft of the Indian Navy. Lt RV Desai was awarded the best all round trainee trophy while Asst Cmdt AM Ambedkar got the FOC-in-C (ENC) Rolling Trophy for standing first in flying training.

The Station Health Organisaton (Kochi) in association with the NWWA organised a Healthy Baby Show-2002. The show was conducted in three age groups - upto one year, 1-2 years and 2-3 years, in two separate categories, one for the officers and the other for sailors children. Preliminaries of the show were held at SHO(K) in which four medical officers independently judged the children as well as their parents based on various parameters. The first ten in each group participated in the finals held at the Sagarika Auditorium. Mrs Meena Harinder Singh, President NWWA (Southern Region) gave away prizes to all participants and the winners of the event.

A naval boat race (Regatta) was held at the Ernakulam Channel, Kochi in which six teams, consisting of personnel from different naval units at the Kochi Naval Base, participated.

Races were held in six categories for competition among various ranks. Each team comprised a crew of six including a helmsman. Pulling away on 27 feet GRP boats called ‘Whalers’, the teams displayed their fighting spirit to cover a distance of 1.7 kms in the minimum time to win the prestigious Cock. VAdm Harinder Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command was the chief guest on the occasion. INS Dronacharya was declared the overall winner while Venduruthy A team bagged the runners-up trophy.