The key organisation of Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) is unique to the Southern Naval Command located in the city.
During the past 22 years of its existence, the organisation has been ensuring optimum utilisation and serviceability of naval platforms besides proficiency of personnel operating them. “Until now, we have cumulatively done work-ups of some 900 ships and submarines,” says Rear Admiral R. Hari Kumar, FOST, who previously commanded the aircraft carrier INS Viraat.
On an average, teams under him ensure battle readiness of at least 50 to 60 surface ships in a year. Submarines, in the meantime, are put through their paces for surface navigation. Rear Admiral Kumar says warships are required to push the envelope for ratification by FOST after a major refit, in cases where the vessel hasn’t sailed for a year or when there’s a crew changeover of more than 30 per cent.
“However, sometimes they don’t fetch up thanks to extended operational cycle which results in a backlog,” he says.
During work-ups, individual proficiency of personnel manning each system and their coordination as a team are tested. “While we have specially trained personnel for each system, everyone is required to maintain a certain level of proficiency in everything in view of exigencies that may arise,” says the Rear Admiral.
Battle-like scenarios and accidents are simulated to evaluate individual and team responses at harbour and at sea. Sailor responses are gauged by putting them through fire-fighting and flooding simulator tests and scenario simulation aboard the vessel thereafter. Generally, an aircraft carrier takes six weeks, frigates and destroyers take four weeks and smaller vessels have three weeks to complete work-up.
The FOST organisation has local work-up teams located on the eastern and western seaboard for performing work-up of vessels below destroyer-class. “We have a task schedule and there’s a review. Force protection measures are also checked for efficiency. We get a feel of the ship as soon as it comes and weak areas are identified early on, for thorough checking.”
