The Indian Coast Guard Ship Varuna, which was part of the First Training Squadron of the Navy, was decommissioned with full armed forces honours at a ceremony held at the south jetty of the Southern Naval Command here on Wednesday.
The ship had an illustrious service spanning about 30 years. Inspector General K.R. Nautiyal, Commander of the Coast Guard Region (West), presided over the traditional ceremony.
Mr. Nautiyal highlighted the contributions of the ship to the training of officer trainees of the Coast Guard and the Navy and commended the ship’s company for the yeomen service rendered for the past 30 years.
During the ceremony, an impressive guard of honour was paraded and with sunset the ‘Coast Guard Ensign’ was hauled down on the ship for the last time. Soon after, as is the tradition when a ship is decommissioned, the ‘Decommissioning Pennant’ which is equal to the length of the ship, was lowered. The Commanding Officer of the ship DIG Rajesh Mittal commanded the ceremonial parade and made the final decommissioning report to the Commander, Coast Guard Region (West).
ICGS Varuna was the fourth of in its class of offshore patrol vessels built by the Mumbai-based Mazagon Dock. The ship had numerous operational achievements to its credit, including a record number of apprehension of smugglers with gold worth crores of rupees during the late 1980s. A cadet training ship for the past 10 years, it has now been replaced by ICGS Sarathi in the First Training Squadron of the Indian Navy.
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