The Indian Naval Hospital Ship (INHS) Asvini, the largest of the Indian Navy’s seven hospitals in the country, celebrated its 49th anniversary recently in Mumbai. On the occasion, a ceremonial parade, barakhana and a variety entertainment programme were organised.

Addressing a press conference, Surg Rear Admiral SP Malhotra, the Commanding Officer of Asvini, said that the modernisation would cost over 100 crore and was expected to be completed by July 2002. The hospital would be equipped with additional facilities like cardiac cath lab, cardiothoracic centre, rediation therapy unit and CT scan, he added.

The history of the hospital dates back to over 200 years. It was established initially as King’s Seaman Hospital in 1756 in the form of a convalescent home for the Naval personnel. A Sepoy’s wing was added in 1769. With the change of the Royal Navy into Bombay Marine, the hospital was transferred to the Army in 1863 and by 1935 it was a 300-bed hospital under the Army Command. After independence, the hospital was transferred back to Navy and was commissioned as INHS Asvini on September 18, 1951. Over the years the bed strength increased to the present 825, and in January 1977, the hospital was upgraded to the status of a command hospital.

The Asvini modernisation project was approved by the government in the recent past and civil works of the new hospital complex commenced in March 1998. Phase I and Phase II are expected to be completed by February 2001 and July 2002 respectively. The new hospital, built on a modular concept, is a multistorey compact structure comprising ground floor plus six floors.

Computerisation project covers the patient care management, logistics management and various other administrative departments of the hospital.

The Asvini is one of the few hospitals in the country with facilities for hyperbaric oxygen therapy which is used for the treatment of a large number of medical and surgical conditions. This facility caters to the requirement of civilian patients also. The neonatal unit is equipped with servo controlled incubators, electronic monitors, ventilators etc for critical care of the neonates.

The Renal transplant centre of the hospital has carried out a total of 131 renal transplants. The centre has six haemodialysis machines. The oncology centre of the hospital offers surgical treatment and chemotherapy for cancer patients. Radioisotope centre of the hospital render support to oncology centre with facilities for radioisotope scanning of various organs and radioablation with radioiodine. The eye department of the hospital has facilities for carrying out keratoplasty to restore vision for the blind. An eye bank has also been established.

The Asvini is a teaching institution for medical assistants, nursing officers and medical officers. The hospital is also recognised by Bombay University/Maharashtra University of Health Sciences for postgraduate degrees in various disciplines of medical sciences.

INS Trinkat, the indigenously built fast patrol vessel of the Indian Navy, was commissioned by Mr IP Gupta, Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar islands at the Naval Base, Visakhapatnam recently. At a colourful ceremony, the Lieutenant Governor unveiled the ship’s plaque and dedicated the ship to enhance the Navy’s surveillance capability for the defence of the vast stretch of the Andaman and Nicobar islands.

A 50-men ceremonial guard of honour was accorded to the the Lieutenant Governor at the Naval Jetty while Eastern Naval Command band played the traditional music. After receiving a salute and inspecting guard of honour, he was introduced to the officers forming the commissioning crew of the ship. The Commanding Officer of INS Trinkat, Lt Cdr Girish K Garg read out the commissioning warrant. Vice Admiral Vinod Pasricha, the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command accepted the ship on behalf of the Navy. Vice Admiral Raman Puri, Fortress Commander, Andaman and Nicobar islands and Rear Admiral Sanjiv Kapoor, Assistant Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition, Naval Headquarters attended the ceremony. A number of senior naval officers, including all the Flag Officers of the Navy in station and members of naval community apart from outstation dignitaries, were present on the occasion. Later, the Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and dignitaries visited the ship.

INS Trinkat was indigenously built by M/s Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd, Calcutta. The induction of the ship paved way for the Navy towards hundred percent indigenisation in warship production in the country. The ship, measuring 46 metres in length, can achieve a speed of 29 knots at a displacement of 260 tons.

The highlight of its features is that it is equipped with the state-of-the-art navigation and satellite communication systems. The MCS-5, machinery control system installed on-board is one of the most advanced systems in the world today. The ship has been named after Trinkat, one of the islands in the Andaman and Nicobar group. Upon her commissioning, the ship will be based at Port Blair. The ship has a complement of four officers and over thirty sailors.