The 52nd National Maritime Day, in commemoration of the maiden voyage of S.S Loyalty, India’s first merchant vessel from Mumbai to London on April 5, 1919, was celebrated at V.O. Chidambaranar Port here on Sunday.
S. Natarajan, Deputy Chairman of the Port, paid tributes to those sailors who had sacrificed their lives at sea by placing a wreath at the memorial at Zone-B (Old Port) in the presence of all heads of departments, officers, other staff and workers of the port.
Mr. Natarajan along with Captain Amit Kapoor, Deputy Conservator of the Port, took salute during the sail-past demonstration of port craft organised at the ninth berth of the port.
Tugs that graced the sail-past were M.T. Tuticorin, M.T. Ocean Endurance, M.T. Thiruvalluvar and M.T. Ocean Brave.
Besides, a couple of pilot launchers, ‘Nallathaneer’ and ‘Tuticorin’, were involved in the show. Sailing in tandem with these craft, patrol vessels of Central Industrial Security Force Harsha III and Jothi also joined the line. The sail-past of mooring tugs offered a visual treat for the public in large numbers.
U. Rajendran, Traffic Manager, other employees of the port and port users witnessed the programme.
