Australian Navy Ship Visits Kochi

Australian Navy Ship Visits Kochi

Australian Navy Ship HMAS Ballarat, commanded by Commander Paul Andrew Johnson is on visit to Kochi from 09 to 13 November 2018. On 09 October 2018, the Commanding Officer HMAS Ballarat had called on Rear Admiral RJ Nadkarni, VSM, Chief of Staff, Southern Naval Command and interacted over professional subjects of common interest to both navies during the office calls.

During the discussions, the Chief of Staff conveyed his gratitude to the Commanding Officer for the assistance rendered by HMAS Ballarat for locating and rendering medical assistance to Commander Abhilash Tomy during the Search and Rescue mission coordinated by the Royal Australian Navy. On 21 September 2018, Cdr Abhilash Tomy whilst on a sea voyage on his sail- boat ‘Thurya’ in southern Indian Ocean had encountered rough seas following which his sail-boat had got de-masted and he also suffered severe back injury.
    
During the stay at Kochi, various activities viz; visit of IN specialist onboard HMAS Ballarat, professional interaction and a friendly volleyball match between the two navies have been planned. The visiting foreign ship’s crew were also given a conducted tour of Navigation & Direction, Damage Control Training Facility, Water Survival Training Facility and Flight and Tactical Simulator.

India’s bilateral relations with Australia are rooted in historical, social and cultural interactions and extensive people-to-people contact. The cooperation between the two navies is in pursuance of India’s Act East policy and is aimed to enhance inter- operability. HMAS Ballarat is planned to depart for Manama on AM 13 November 2018.