New Zealand Naval Ships arrive in Andaman

Port Blair, May 24 (UNI) Royal Naval Ships, HMNZ TE Mana(Frigate) and Endeavour(Tanker) today arrived at Port Blair on a four day visit, after complating the scheduled exercise with Indian Naval Ships in Mysore and Kuthar.

Mr Graeme Charles Waters, New Zealand's High Commissioner to India was also scheduled to visit Port Blair today.

''TE MANA, meaning ''status'', was a frigate commissioned in December 1999 and carried one KAMAN SH-2G super seasprite helicopter, which could be armed with torpedoes, depth charges and Maverick missiles. The role of the ship was to protect New Zealand, its maritime resources and participating in UN peacekeeping missions,'' Lt Vidyasagar, the Public Relations Officer, in-charge of Andaman and Nicobar Command said.

The second ship, Endeavour, was a Tanker commissioned in South Korea in 1988 and supported the New Zealand Naval fleet and Commonwealth surface units. It had a storage capacity of 7,500 tonnes of fuel in eight tanks.

''Commanding officers of both ships would call on Rear Admiral PK Nair, Chief of Staff, Andaman&Nicobar Command and some other senior officers later in afternoon,'' Vidyasagar told UNI.

The PRO added that the officers and sailors of the ships would visit various places of tourist interest and historical importance at Port Blair. Interaction with the officers and men of the Command was scheduled through social and sports activities.

Andaman and Nicobar Command, India's first tri-service joint command, was situated in remote Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The command was located in these strategically important islands to check piracy, poaching, gunrunning and other anti-national activities in this region.

UNI