South African Navy ship to visit Kochi

Kochi, Nov 12 (UNI) SAS SPIOENKOP, one of South African Navy's (SA Navy) Valour Class frigates, will call at the Kochi port from November 14 to 18.

The warship is on deployment to promote inter-continental co-operation by visiting countries to maintain good relationships or to establish new ties of friendship and collaboration, an official release said here today.

The ship is coming to Kochi after visiting Singapore, China, Malaysia and Vietnam. It will visit Mauritius on its way back to Simon's Town, its home base in South Africa.

SAS SPIOENKOP will conduct naval exercises on a small scale with the Indian Navy before it sets sail on November 18.

The Indian, Brazilian and South African Navies held the first India, Brazil, South Africa Maritime (IBSAMAR) exercises around Cape Town in South Africa in May.

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