RI, Indian Navies cooperate for training scheme

Ella Davison ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Fri, 02/08/2008 11:53 AM  |  World

BILATERAL TRAINING: (From left to right) Lt. Pankaj Dhyani, Acting Indian Ambassador Muktesh Pardeshi and Commander A.S. Patankar pose for a photo aboard a ship Thursday. (JP/Ella Davison)

The first training squadron of the Indian Navy would leave Tanjung Priok, Jakarta, on Friday after a four-day training exercise and cultural excursion.

The squadron, comprising four ships -- INS Tir, INS Krishna, INS Tarangini and ICGS Varuna -- would travel throughout South-East Asia before returning to India, with between 40 and 220 cadets and staff onboard each ship.

Indonesia and India's naval forces have long held strong bilateral relations INS Tir Captain N.N. Rao said, adding that naval forces worldwide were generally supportive of each other's activities.

"Navies all over the world have good relations with each other because the being at sea is conceptually different from being on land or in the air.

"When you are out at sea, you are at the mercy of the elements. You can not think you are superior to other navies at sea.

"In a storm, an American destroyer or aircraft carrier may get just as battered as a small naval ship from Sri Lanka or Indonesia," Rao said.

The cadets are on their first trip abroad, and are receiving training in navigation, weapons handling, engineering and logistics.

After basic training, cadets can also undertake additional study to become divers, sub-mariners or pilots.

The cadets are rotated around every six weeks so they can gain experience in the various aspects of sea life.

The Indian navy also accepts cadets of from other countries, to broaden the learning experience. The current training squadron is carrying cadets from Indonesia and Fiji.

The Indonesian and Indian naval forces both participate in monitoring the Strait of Malacca for maritime piracy and terrorism.

Both countries have a long history of co-operating in these issues, as well as countering the smuggling of contraband or humans, acting Indian Ambassador to Indonesia Muktesh Pardeshi said.

"We conduct exercises twice a year over two months, in March and September. Indian and Indonesian navies combine efforts to patrol this area (the Strait of Malacca) to prevent smuggling or illegal activity at sea," Rao said.

The squadron ships are primarily used for training purposes but are also used as hospital ships, as happened after the 2004 Asian Tsunami and the 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake, when India provided a ship for disaster relief.

Those enlisted in the Indian navy are contracted for 15 years and officers must work for 20 years before being eligible for a pension, Rao said, adding that they could be dismissed at any time.

Many men stay on past their contractual terms, he said.

Copyright © 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved.