The stage is set for the review of the Naval fleet on Saturday morning by President Pranab Mukherjee as part of the International Fleet Review (IFR), while Prime Minister Narendra Modi is participating in the event on Sunday, according to Admiral RK Dhowan, Chief of Naval Staff.

Addressing the media here on Friday morning, he said 74 Indian ships belonging to the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard and 24 ships from various foreign countries would take part in the IFR.

“It is a major event and it is really creditable on the part of the State government to get Visakhapatnam, hit by the very severe cyclone Hudhud in 2014, ready for this event. It is a most pleasant port city.”.

Thanking the Union government, the State government, all other agencies and the Naval staff involved in the IFR, Admiral Dhowan said coastal security is of the utmost importance and “we have to be vigilant all the time in these times of international terrorism and piracy. Even a small fishing vessel can be a security threat and therefore the role of the Navy and the Coast Guard in protecting our shores and our offshore assets cannot be overemphasized.”

Maritime cooperation He said there was a need for cooperation among maritime nations to counter the threats of terrorism and piracy and all the nations in the Indian Ocean region, including India, were working towards that end.

“The Indian Navy has also drawn up a plan for indigenisation and self-reliance and is working ceaselessly for achieving the objective, in partnership with both the public and private sectors in the country.”

Admiral Dhowan said the Prime Minister would release a book on the 5000-year-old maritime history of India on the occasion of the International Fleet Review.

It would be available both in English and Hindi and the online version would also be available to the public.

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