Great changes in Navy in coming years: Naval chief

New Delhi, Oct 16 (UNI) The Naval Senior Officers' Conference began today to deal with the themes of safety consciousness, accelerating the process of change, and a resurgent Navy to address the realities of the 21st century, ''Great changes will be brought about in the Navy in the coming years,'' Naval chief Admiral Arun Prakash told Naval commanders in his inaugural address.

''With change being inevitable, we can either embrace it, or have it thrust upon us. That is the reason I have laid great emphasis on issues of transformation, formulating new doctrines and concepts,'' he said.

Taking into account the mishaps in recent times, he stressed that the safety roadmap would ensure that the naval operations were not only effective, but also conducted safely.

Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee will release a classified document, 'Freedom of the Seas: India's Maritime Strategy', at the Conference tomorrow.

UNI YJ VD BST1913