INS Delhi and INS Kavaratti awarded Best Ship Trophies
The Fleet Awards Function 2024 was held at Visakhapatnam on 13 July 2024 to acknowledge and celebrate the operational achievements of the Eastern Fleet during the past one year. The annual event, marks the culmination of the operational campaign cycle of the Eastern Fleet. Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, AVSM, VSM, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command was the Chief Guest for the event which was hosted by Rear Admiral Rajesh Dhankhar, NM, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet.
The year gone by witnessed a high tempo of operational activities as the Eastern Fleet was deployed within and beyond the Indian Ocean Region for safeguarding our maritime interests. The combat edge of Fleet ships was maintained and proven during the several practice weapon firings in air, surface and sub-surface domains. Multiple exercises of varied nature including conventional naval exercises, amphibious and HADR exercises were conducted with participation of the Indian Army and Indian Air Force. Eastern Fleet ships also participated in MILAN-24 the largest multilateral exercise with participation of close to 50 countries, several bilateral and multilateral exercises such as JIMEX (with Japan), SIMBEX (with Singapore), TIGER TRIUMPH (with USA), RIMPAC, BONGOSAGAR (with Bangladesh) to name a few. Ships from the Eastern Fleet also unfurled the tricolour across the world, while fortifying bridges of friendship with several countries.
A cultural programme was organised as part of the awards function and the event culminated with the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, ENC awarding the coveted Best Ship of the Eastern Fleet to INS Delhi. INS Kavaratti was the Best Ship in Corvettes/ OPVs/ LSTs. INS Shivalik, INS Sumedha and INS Sumitra were adjudged as the most spirited ships of the Sunrise Fleet, while carrying out a wide variety of challenging missions over the last one year.
