Shillong: Journalists from Meghalaya and Sikkim got a first-hand look at Indian naval operations during a media tour of Kerala organised by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), visiting an Indian Naval vessel and key training and heritage facilities in Kochi on Tuesday.
The journalists boarded INS Sunayana, where Lieutenant Naorem Nivash, the vessel’s Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Officer, briefed them on the ship’s capabilities, operational role and various onboard facilities.
Nivash, who hails from Manipur, made a special appeal to the visiting journalists to carry the message back to the Northeast and encourage young people from the region to consider careers in the Indian Navy.
He said only a small number of personnel from the Northeast currently serve in the Navy and stressed the need to encourage more young people from the region to explore opportunities in the armed forces.
The journalists visited key areas of INS Sunayana, including the bridge, helicopter hangar and helipad.
At the bridge, they were shown the vessel’s navigation and control systems, providing an insight into the precision, coordination and decision-making involved in operating a naval ship.
The delegation also visited the helicopter hangar and helipad, where they were briefed on the facilities and arrangements supporting aviation operations onboard.
The visit formed part of a wider exposure to naval operations in Kochi. Earlier, the journalists visited the Navigation and Direction (ND) School under the Southern Naval Command.
Captain Rahul Pawar, Officer-in-Charge of the ND School, briefed the delegation on the specialised training provided to naval personnel and the role of navigation and direction in maritime operations.
The journalists were also introduced to the Integrated Simulator Complex ‘Dhruv’, which houses an Astronavigation Dome and indigenously developed simulators used for training in navigation, fleet operations and naval tactics.
A key highlight was the newly opened bridge simulator, where the journalists were given an opportunity to take the controls and navigate a simulated maritime environment.
The experience offered them an insight into the concentration, coordination and quick decision-making required to manoeuvre a vessel at sea.
The delegation was also briefed on astronavigation and the continued use of celestial bodies as navigational references alongside modern electronic navigation systems.
The tour concluded at the Indian Naval Maritime Museum at INS Dronacharya, where Commander Repsol Raj, Officer-in-Charge of the museum, briefed the journalists on India’s maritime and naval heritage.
For the journalists from Meghalaya and Sikkim, the visit offered an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the technology, training and human effort behind naval operations, while also highlighting career opportunities for young people from the Northeast in the Indian Navy.
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