Kochi, Sep 9: It was a moment of pride for journalists from Meghalaya and Sikkim as they stepped aboard INS Sunayana and got a first-hand look at the workings of an Indian Naval vessel during a media tour of Kerala organised by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) on Tuesday.
Lieutenant Naorem Nivash, ASW Officer aboard INS Sunayana, briefed the journalists on the vessel’s capabilities and operational role, besides taking them through key areas including the bridge, helicopter hangar and helipad.
During the interaction, Nivash, who hails from Manipur, made a special appeal to the journalists from the Northeast to encourage youth from the region to consider a career in the Indian Navy, pointing out that only a handful of personnel from the Northeast are serving in the Navy.
At the ship’s bridge, the journalists were shown navigation and control systems, offering insight into the precision and coordination involved in handling a naval ship. They were also briefed on facilities supporting aviation operations onboard.
The visit formed part of a larger exposure to naval operations in Kochi. The delegation earlier visited the Navigation and Direction (ND) School at the Southern Naval Command, where Captain Rahul Pawar, Officer-in-Charge, briefed them on specialised training and the importance of navigation in maritime operations.
The journalists were introduced to the Integrated Simulator Complex ‘Dhruv’, which includes an Astronavigation Dome and indigenously developed simulators for navigation, fleet operations and tactics. A key highlight was the newly opened bridge simulator, where journalists took the controls and navigated a virtual maritime environment.
They were also briefed on astronavigation and how celestial bodies continue to serve as navigational references alongside modern systems.
The visit concluded at the Indian Naval Maritime Museum at INS Dronacharya, where Commander Repsol Raj briefed the delegation on India’s maritime and naval heritage.
