KUWAIT: Three Indian naval ships arrived at Shuwaikh Port for a training exchange visit on Tuesday. The arrival of the ships INS TIR and INS Sujatha, the first Training Squadron of Indian Navy, along with the Indian Coast guard ship Sarathi at Kuwait port, heralds a new chapter in the bilateral defense ties between Kuwait and India. The visit of the Indian ships takes place following a similar visit by Indian naval ship INS TEG in July 2022.

On their arrival at the Al-Shuwaikh port in Kuwait, the ships were given a warm welcome by officials of the Kuwait Naval Forces, Border Guards and Indian Embassy officials. Indian school children were also present to welcome the ships.

The ships during their four-day stay at the port will be following all laid down COVID-19 protocols, according to a press note issued by the Indian Embassy on Tuesday.

INS TIR, meaning arrow, is the first dedicated cadet training ship to be built by Mazgaon Dock Limited, Mumbai and was commissioned on 21 February 1986. INS TIR is the senior ship of the 1st Training Squadron of the Southern Naval Command and is equipped with all modern training amenities. Over the years, the Ship has trained more than 4000 officers including those from friendly foreign countries, visited 29 countries and has been a beacon of furthering Maritime diplomacy and foreign cooperation.

KUWAIT: Officials of the Kuwait Naval Forces, Border Guards, Indian naval officials and Indian Embassy officials during the reception of the ship at Shuwaikh port on Tuesday.

INS Sujatha is an indigenously-built Sukanya class offshore patrol vessel of the Indian Navy commissioned on 03 November 1993. The ship undertakes fleet support operations, humanitarian assistance missions, offshore patrolling, ocean surveillance and escort duties. A cadet training ship for the past nine years, the officer cadets are exposed to practical aspects of navigation and seamanship onboard this ship before moving on to complex assignments. With a motto of 'alert ahead always,' the ship will remain as the cradle of naval leadership in the years to come.

Indian Coast Guard Ship 'Sarathi' (meaning charioteer), is the third in the series of six offshore patrol vessels designed and built indigenously by Goa Shipyard Limited. Commissioned on 09 September 2016, this 105m ship is fitted with the most advanced state-of-the-art navigation and communication equipment, sensors and machineries.