Indonesian Naval ship visits Andaman

Port Blair, Mar 6 (UNI) An Indonesian Naval Ship 'KRI Iman Banjol' along with an aircraft 'Nomad P841 (MPA)' has arrived in Port Blair for the ninth cycle of coordinated patrol with the Indian Navy, command sources said today.

After arriving here Captain Desai Albert Mamahit, Assistant Operations Officer, Welstern Fleet Command of Indonesian Navy and Lt Commander Agung Jaya Sakti, the Commanding Officer, KRI Iman Banjol, along with other senior officers called on Air Marshal P P Rajkumar, the Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command.

They discussed modalities to conduct the ninth cycle of coordinated patrol and bilateral issues, the sources of Andaman and Nicobar Command said.

Later the officer of the visiting foreign ship participated in the traditional opening ceremony held at Naval Jetty of Port Blair.

The purpose of the coordinated patrol is to prevent smuggling, piracy, drug trafficking and illegal fishing.

During the month-long patrol, ships and aircraft of both the navies will jointly patrol their respective areas around the International Maritime Boundary line, the sources added.

UNI