Article Posted on : - Jun 24, 2015

Rajput-class DDG INS Ranvir. A file photo

NEW DELHI (PTI): Indian warships on Tuesday entered Cambodia and Thailand as part of a two-month-long operational deployment in South China Sea in pursuant of India's 'Act East' Policy.

The Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet ships under the command of Rear Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh are on operational deployment to South East Asia and Southern Indian Ocean.

As part of the deployment, INS Ranvir, a guided missile destroyer and INS Kamorta, an indigenously-built anti-submarine corvette entered Sihanoukville in Cambodia.

Similarly, two warships including INS Satpura, an indigenously-built guided missile stealth frigate and INS Shakti, a fleet tanker and support ship, entered Sattahip, Thailand.

They are on a four-day visit respectively and are on the return leg after a 45-day deployment.

"The visit is aimed at strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries as well as fostering inter-operability between the navies of these two friendly nations," a statement by the Navy said.

During the stay in harbour, various activities including official calls, professional interaction between personnel of both the navies and reception onboard and ship visits have been planned.

On departure from Sihanoukville, INS Ranvir and INS Kamorta will exercise with the Cambodian Navy for enhancing inter-operability in maritime operations which includes search and rescue.

These ships have visited Singapore, Jakarta (Indonesia), Freemantle (Australia) and Kuantan (Malaysia) during deployment.

During this deployment, the two warships also participated in the bilateral exercise SIMBEX-15 with the Royal Singapore Navy from May 20 to May 26, the statement added.