Taste of Portsmouth for sailors of India
Hundreds of Indian sailors got their first taste of Portsmouth when they arrived in the city on a European tour.
Indian destroyer INS Delhi and frigates INS Beas and INS Brahmaputra are berthed at the naval base ahead of a six-day exercise off the south coast.
On Saturday the visiting crew will work with the Royal Navy to share tips and expertise on tackling piracy and terrorism.
But before the hard part they are taking time to see the sights. The visitors loved a trip to the Spinnaker Tower and were all excited about seeing the dockyard.
The man in charge of India's western fleet, Rear Admiral Surinder Cheema, said his group had been impressed with their welcome.
He said: 'We have completed a joint exercise with the Royal Navy since 2004 in Indian waters, and we are excited to be here in the UK.
'We have had a very warm welcome in Portsmouth, and we hope to profit as much as possible from this experience.'
Piping aboard the dignitaries yesterday were Seaman 1st class Alex Vinoth Arul, 22, and Leading seaman Sudhir Kumar, 24.
They said they had never left India before.
Mr Kumar said: 'This is my first visit to any country other than home – it's very exciting.'
Greeting the Indian party was Commodore Simon Ancona. He will lead the Portsmouth frigate HMS Westminster, the frigate HMS Northumberland, a nuclear submarine, support ships and a patrol plane in Exercise Konkan.
He said: 'We have an incredibly relaxed relationship with the Indian Navy, partly because of our history and partly because of our ongoing common focus.
'We are both maritime nations who look over the horizon, we can share our knowledge of coastal security, keeping sea lanes open and tackling piracy.
'In many ways the Indian Navy has kept our traditions going better than we have, such is their commitment to etiquette and custom.'
Working on deck, Petty Officer Shailesh Kumar said he was impressed with the Spinnaker Tower.
He said: 'It is fantastic, I would love to go up the top and see the view.'
EXERCISE KONKAN
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Weather for Portsmouth
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South
