The Indian Naval Ship Tarkash has arrives the Port of Lagos Apapa Quay for a joint sea manuever with the Nigerian Navy within the Gulf of Guinea.
The coming the vessel and the joint sea exercise it was learnt was in the continued efforts to ensure security in the Gulf of Guinea(GoG).
The visit it was learnt was in continuation of her deployment in Gulf of Guinea,
The ship was welcomed by officials of Nigerian Navy, High Commission of India and children of the Indian Language School.
During her port call, the ship will conduct professional interactions with Nigerian Navy to enhance Interoperability and share best practices between the navies. In addition, ship will also participate in sports fixtures, social engagements and will remain open to visitors to provide an opportunity to the Indian diaspora and locals to interact with her crew.
While paying courtesy call with the crew to Western Naval Command the Indian Defence Attache, Colonel Romi Singh Legha said: “During this visit by Tarkash – there is an operational deployment which we are having for the very first time; we have usually had port calls. But this is the first time we are having some sort of operational deployment as well as an exercise, which has been planned along with the Nigerian Navy. I am sure it would go a long way in ensuring the security of the Gulf of Guinea.”
Col. Legha said that it was the first time that they would be engaged in an operational exercise, unlike when it was just a port call.
He expressed confidence that the planned exercise would further boost security in the Gulf of Guinea.
The Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Yakubu Wambai, received Colonel Legha and the ship’s crew at the Western Naval Command headquarters.
The Defence Attache described efforts by the Nigerian Navy and that of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) as ‘phenomenal’ in the fight against piracy.
