Prince of Wales Charles visited Cochin Shipyard in the city on Tuesday to take a look at INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, which is under construction.
Prince Charles, who spent more than an hour at the shipyard, was welcomed by K. Subramaniam, chairman and managing director of Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), and Satish Soni, Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Southern Naval Command.
The royal visitor was briefed on the work being done on the new aircraft carrier as well as on the existing carrier, INS Viraat. He was told about CSL’s long association with companies such as Mactaggart Scott of the United Kingdom. The company is chipping in with deck edge lifts for the aircraft.
The shipyard has also had a long-standing relationship with firms based in the U.K. such as Rolls Royce Marine in building offshore support vessels and with Rolls Royce Marine AS, Norway, which is part of the Rolls Royce Plc of the U.K., in building high-end offshore vessels. Prince Charles also interacted with woman welders and fitters Shobhanakumari, Vijayamma, Jagadamma and Rajalekshmi as well as with senior officials of the company, said a statement issued by the CSL here.
Kudumbasree Mission
Prince Charles’ wife Camilla Parker Bowles said she was impressed with the working of the Kudumbasree Mission. The Duchess of Cornwall said it should become a model for others, according to a statement issued by the Public Relations Department.
She interacted with members of the Kudumbasree at the Aluva Palace guest house. Tani Thomas, district coordinator of Kudumbasree, and Cincymol Antony, assistant coordinator, were among those present at the meeting.
The Duchess of Cornwall also visited the Ernakulam General Hospital, where she was welcomed by the State coordinator for National Rural Health Mission, M. Beena. The Duchess also witnessed students at the Government School of Nursing tending to a patient and visited the dietary kitchen at the General Hospital.
She also visited Rajagiri Public School, Kalamassery, to observe activities related to the International School Award (ISA) programme of the British Council.
Five schools with ISA recognition, including the Kalamassery school, were part of the programme. The others included Bhavans Vidya Mandir, Elamakkara; Kristu Jayanti Public School, Kakkanad; Toc-H Public School, Vyttila; and Christ Nagar school, Thiruvananthapuram. The Duchess interacted with the students and teachers and attended a Commonwealth debate session.
