29 August 2024 04:50 am Views - 50
By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya
The Indian Navy’s frontline warship, INS Mumbai, is set to depart Colombo today after engaging in a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with a Sri Lankan Navy ship off the coast of Colombo.
INS Mumbai arrived at the port of Colombo on Monday for its first visit to Sri Lanka, marking the eighth port call by Indian ships this year.
Previous visits included INS Kabra, INS Karanj, INS Kamorta, INS Shalki, and Indian Coast Guard ships Samarth, Abhinav, and Sachet.
Commissioned into the Indian Navy on January 22, 2001, INS Mumbai is the third ship of the Delhi class destroyers, indigenously built at Mazagon Dock Limited in Mumbai. The ship completed its mid-life upgrade and joined the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam on December 8, 2023.
Measuring 163 meters in length and manned by a crew of 410, INS Mumbai is commanded by Captain Sandeep Kumar. During its visit, the ship delivered essential spares for the Dornier maritime patrol aircraft operated by the Sri Lankan Air Force. This aircraft has been crucial for surveillance over Sri Lanka’s Sea Area of Responsibility (AOR) since its induction two years ago, significantly enhancing search and rescue capabilities in Sri Lanka’s extensive exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The Indian Navy is also supporting the maintenance of this aircraft with a technical team and spares. Earlier this year, INS Kabra and ICGS Sachet provided material assistance, including spare parts for the Sri Lanka Coast Guard ship Suraksha.
While in Colombo, INS Mumbai hosted a familiarisation tour for Sri Lankan Navy personnel, aimed at sharing best practices between the two Navies.
Indian naval ships frequently make port calls in Sri Lankan ports while transiting between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. This visit was categorised as an Operational Turnaround (OTR), during which the ship replenished fuel and provisions.