Maldivian Coast Guard Ship (MCGS) Huravee successfully completed its refit at Indian Navy’s Visakhapatnam Dockyard and formally handed over to its Commanding Officer Major Mohamed Jamshad.
Huravee’s handing over ceremony was organised to commemorate the occasion on 15 November 2018. The Chief Guest for the function, Rear Admiral Amit Bose, Admiral Superintendent Naval Dockyard thereafter addressed the gathering wherein he ensured continued support of the Indian Navy to the Maldivian Coast Guard. The Commanding Officer of Huravee also thanked Indian Navy for the successful completion of the refit. The event concluded by customary crest exchange between the ship and the chief guest.
According to a press of Defence Ministry, four-month long refit to MCGS Huravee is an initiative by the Indian Navy undertaken in furtherance of diplomatic outreach to friendly foreign navies in the Indian Ocean Region. Huravee had arrived at Visakhapatnam on 12 July 2018 and successfully completed her refit on 14 November. During the refit, major repairs were undertaken on the ship’s hull, main propulsion and auxiliaries. In addition number of systems and equipment were upgraded for better performance and reliability. All equipment were put through extensive harbour and sea trials so as to achieve full combat capability of the ship and ensure her continuous availability for operations to the Maldives Coast Guard for next operational cycle.
MCGS Huravee was originally commissioned as INS Tillanchang, a Trinkat class patrol vessel built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, Kolkata in March 2001. Later on it was gifted to Maldives by the Indian Government in April 2006. Motive was to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two nations and work together to ensure the maritime safety of the Indian Ocean Region.
‘The Indian Government through the Navy has undertaken such diplomatic courtesies previously when it undertook the refit of the ship in 2015’ said the press release.
