“Safe seas and secure coasts for strong nation,” is the theme for Navy Day celebrations on December 4, said Commander Surendra Sharma, Naval Detachment at Mallipattinam, in a statement .
Naval detachment at Mallipattinam is the sole naval establishment in the district of Thanjavur. Mr.Sharma said that the primary objective of Navy is to meet maritime interest of our country which includes safety and security at sea, coastal security, safety of seaborne trade and Indian shipping, security of sea based resources, and seaborne energy security which includes security of offshore assets in Exclusive Economic Zones.
Indian Navy also carries out anti-piracy, anti-poaching, and anti-smuggling operation when called upon to do so. India also uses its Navy to enhance its international relationship through joint exercises and goodwill visits. Navy has also been called upon for humanitarian and disaster relief in times of natural disasters, including floods, cyclones and tsunami.
December 4 is celebrated as Navy Day every year.
“Navy Day commemorates the daring attack by Indian Naval missile boats on Karachi harbour during Indo-Pakistan war of 1971. Attack was named Operation Trident and owing to its success the day of attack has been celebrated as Navy Day ever since,” Mr. Sharma said.
In recent years, Indian Navy has undergone considerable modernisation to replace ageing equipment in use . This is often seen as part of “India's drive” to become full-fledged blue water Navy.
Indian Navy is organised into three regional command Headquarters Eastern Naval command, Visakhapattinam, Headquarters Western Naval Command, Mumbai, and Headquarters Southern Naval Command, Kochi. Another strategic command, a joint Navy, Army and Air Force command was set up in Andaman and Nicobar islands in 2001. Mallipattinam detachment is a field unit set up to provide assistance to Tamil Nadu government for coastal security operations and to check anti-national activities. This establishment has been in existence since 1991 and functions under Headquarters Eastern Naval Command, Naval-Officer-in charge (Tamil Nadu and Puducherry) Commodore A.K.Mahadevan.
