Chief of the Royal New Zealand Navy Rear Admiral Jack Steer is on a visit to Kochi.
The visit coincides with the arrival of the New Zealand Navy’s frigate Te Kaha, on its way back to New Zealand after a five-month-long deployment in the Persian Gulf.
Working with the US-led Combined Maritime Force, the ship dealt a huge blow to drug runners in the Western Indian Ocean by seizing almost 260 kg heroin worth New Zealand Dollars 235 million (Rs 1,052 crore).
At the Southern Naval Command here, Rear Admiral Steer was accorded a 50-men Guard of Honour, after which he interacted with Vice-Admiral Sunil Lanba, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the command. He is slated to go on board sail training ship INS Sudarshini besides visiting the damage control training facility at the Naval Base. The visiting Navy Chief, accompanied by a delegation visited the Folklore Museum and undertook a harbour familiarisation.
HMNZS Te Kaha, a 3,600-tonne Anzac class guided missile frigate, departed Devonport, her base port, in February this year. During the ship’s stay here, professional interaction and social events between both navies will take place. The ship is to depart Kochi on June 22.
Air Commodore Shaun Clarke, New Zealand’s Defence Adviser to India, and Michael Appleton, Deputy High Commissioner of New Zealand in Delhi, are also in town as part of the delegation.
