look news india
New Delhi, 15 February (HS). Indian Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) ICGS Varaha has been sent to East Africa as part of strategic overseas deployment. The ship reached Maputo port in Mozambique on Wednesday. This is an important achievement under the ongoing diplomatic maritime engagement. The deployment of ICGS Varaha to East Africa is aimed at promoting close and cordial relations with African countries as well as promoting friendly relations through maritime cooperation.
According to the Defense Ministry, during its three-day visit, the ICGS Varaha team will participate in a series of professional interactions in the field of Marine Pollution Response (MPR), Marine Search and Rescue (M-SAR) and maritime law enforcement. These included cross-deck training, meetings with officers from various Mozambican naval and maritime agencies, sports events, joint yoga sessions, tabletop exercises and a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with Mozambican Naval Forces.
The visit of indigenously built Offshore Patrol Vessel ICGS Varaha to the East African countries also aims to showcase the strength and capabilities of the Indian shipbuilding industry while taking forward the concept of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'. A team of National Cadet Corps (NCC) onboard the ICG ship will conduct a beach clean-up campaign in Maputo along with a local youth organization as part of the Government's initiative 'Puneet Sagar Abhiyaan'. These collaborative efforts are aimed at further strengthening the relationship between the Indian Coast Guard and their counterparts in Mozambique.
According to the ministry, this foreign deployment is in line with the Indian Coast Guard's commitment to promote bilateral relations and enhance international cooperation with foreign friendly countries. Prior to this visit, ICGS Varaha had demonstrated uninterrupted continuity of diplomatic maritime activities while deployed at the Port of Mombasa, Kenya in the African region. This visit to Maputo holds great significance, as it strengthens bilateral relations with key maritime agencies. This deployment is also important in the long-term relations between maritime security and addressing contemporary maritime challenges.
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