Kochi: Keep sharp vigil to keep coasts safe, navy chief tells leadership

Kochi: Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba on Monday called upon the senior leadership and officers of the Indian Navy to maintain the high tempo of operations and keep sharp vigil including stringent security measures to ensure safer coasts and secure seas.

Admiral Lanba was speaking at the debrief of the recently concluded annual Theatre Level Readiness and Operational Exercise (TROPEX) at the Naval Base in Kochi, attended by the Commanders-in-Chief of all the three naval commands, along with the operational commanders and representatives from Indian Army, Air Force and Indian Coast Guard.

According to Navy, the day long review of TROPEX 2019 was undertaken to examine the conduct of exercise and to assess operational readiness of the Navy.

The Annual Integrated Theatre Level Operational Readiness Exercise - TROPEX - the largest maritime exercise of the Navy was conducted in February in the Arabian Sea and North Indian Ocean. About 60 ships of Indian Navy, 12 ships of Indian Coast Guard and 60 aircraft participated in TROPEX 19.

As a prelude to TROPEX, the largest coastal defence exercise over codenamed ‘Sea Vigil’, was also conducted in January with participation of all coastal states and union territories along with all maritime stake holders.