INS Mahe decommissioned

Kochi, May 15 (UNI) Indian Naval Ship ''Mahe'' was decommissioned at the Naval Base here today in the presence of Southern Naval Command's Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Vice Admiral Jagjit Singh Bedi.

With the sounding of the 'Last post', the paying off pennant was also hauled down bringing to an end INS Mahe's 24 years of service.

The Admiral inspected a 50-man guard of honour and LCdr Boyiri Varma, the last commanding officer of INS Mahe, delivered the pre-decommissioning speech. At sunset, the Colour Guard presented arms as the National Flag and the Naval Ensign were hauled down.

A number of officers and sailors who had served onboard this ship witnessed the decommmissioning ceremony.

VAdm K K Nayyar, the then Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command, commissioned the ship on 16 May, 1983 at Kochi.

The ship is named after the small fishing town of Mahe, part of the Union Territory of Pondicherry, 75 miles south of New Mangalore.

The ship, 26 meters long and a tonnage of 100 tonne, was primarily used for inshore Mine Sweeping, Harbour Defence and Coastal Patrolling.

The ship entered all minor ports along the Malabar Coast and participated in various naval exercises, search and rescue missions and escort duties. She was the sixth ship of the Inshore Minesweeper Squadron to be decommissioned by the Navy.

UNI