Visakhapatnam: It was a colourful ceremony with the Indian Navy displaying its ships in the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command, as President Ram Nath Kovind who is also Supreme Commander of the armed forces reviewed the Naval fleet comprising over 60 ships and submarines and 55 aircraft February 21.

On his arrival, he was accorded the ceremonial Guard of Honour at Naval dockyard, Visakhapatnam for the 12th edition of President’s Fleet Review coinciding with the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence being celebrated as Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.

The crew of each ship presented a salute with the traditional ‘Three Jais’, a symbolic act called “Man and Cheer Ship,” in a demonstration of the unconditional allegiance of Navy personnel to the country and the Supreme Commander.

The theme of the President’s Fleet Review-2022 was ‘Indian Navy – 75 years in Service of the Nation’.

Sailing on the indigenously designed Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel INS Sumitra, designated as the Presidential Yacht, President Kovind sailed past 44 ships anchored in four columns in the Bay of Bengal and received the ceremonial salute from each of them.

The President’s Yacht which is an indigenously built Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel, INS Sumitra, led the Presidential Column. The yacht is distinguished by the Ashoka Emblem on her side and flies the President’s Standard on the Mast.

After the Ceremonial Guard of Honour and a 21 Gun Salute, the President embarked on the Presidential Yacht  sailing through 44 ships lined up at anchorage off Visakhapatnam.

The review had a combination of ships from the Indian Navy as well as the Coast Guard. Ships from Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) and the Ministry of Earth Sciences also participated in this grand parade. In this most formal of naval ceremonials, each ship was dressed in full regalia and saluted the President as his yacht passed them.

The President also reviewed the Indian Naval Air Arm in a display of spectacular fly-past by several helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. In the final stage of the review, a mobile column of warships and submarines steamed past the Presidential Yacht.

The display saw the Indian Navy showing its latest acquisitions followed by several enthralling waterfront activities, including Parade of Sails, Search and Rescue Demonstration at Sea, Aerobatics by Hawk aircraft and Water Para Jumps by the elite Marine Commandos (MARCOS).

The Review was followed by the release of a special First Day Cover and a commemorative stamp by the President in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of State for Communication Devusinh J Chauhan.

It was an awe-inspiring and much-awaited event with the ships at anchorage being ceremonially dressed overall with various naval flags in full regalia.

The review by the President had a combination of ships from the Indian Navy as well the Coast Guard. In the final stage of the review, a mobile column of warships and submarines steamed past the Presidential Yacht. The review is for the President as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces to take stock of the Navy’s capability. It showcases all types of ships and capabilities the Navy has.

Several enthralling waterfront activities, including Parade of Sails, Search and Rescue Demonstration at Sea, Aerobatics by Hawk aircraft and Water Para Jumps by the elite Marine Commandos (MARCOS) were also held.

The ships which were at anchorage ceremonially dressed overall with various naval flags in full regalia during the day were illuminated from sunset to midnight on February 19 and 20, providing a beach front treat to the residents of Visakhapatnam.

A fleet review is usually conducted once during the tenure of the President and till date 11 Presidential Fleet Reviews have been conducted since Independence, of which two have been International Fleet Reviews, in 2001 and 2016. “In terms of significance, the Navy’s Presidential review is second only to the Republic Day Parade,” the Navy said in a statement.

All ships at anchorage are dressed ceremoniously with various naval flags in full regalia. They had been illuminated from sunset to midnight on February 19 and 20.

As part of the Sail Parade activities, six ocean-going Indian Naval Sailing Vessels  came from Goa. These are part of Ocean Sailing Node at INS Mandovi at Goa.

The first President’s Fleet Review was conducted in 1953, under Dr Rajendra Prasad. The next one was done not by the President but by the then Defence Minister, Y B Chavan, in 1964. Since then, it has been the President reviewing the fleet.

The longest gap between reviews was of 12 years — between 1989 (President R Venkatraman) and when 2001 (President K R Narayanan). The last one was done in 2016, under President Pranab Mukherjee.

The reviews in 2001 and 2016 were International Fleet Reviews, in which some vessels from other countries also participated. The Indian Navy too has participated in international fleet reviews in other countries, including Australia, America, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea, and the UK.

In 1953, 25 warships, seven yard craft and one merchant ship had participated. In 1964, the number rose to 31 warships, nine merchant ships and 12 yard craft. Two years later, under President S Radhakrishnan, India’s first aircraft carrier INS Vikrant was part of the review.

It is one of the most important events for the Navy, which is essentially showing its allegiance and commitment to defending the country. It is a long-standing tradition followed by navies across the world, and according to Navy officials it is a strong bond that links seafarers of the world.

“Historically, a Fleet Review is an assembly of ships at a pre-designated place for the purpose of displaying loyalty and allegiance to the Sovereign and the state. In turn, the Sovereign, by reviewing the ships, reaffirms his faith in the fleet and its ability to defend the nation’s maritime interest,” a senior Navy official said.

The official said the review “was perhaps conceived as a show of naval might. Though it still has the same connotation, assembling of warships without any belligerent intentions is now the norm in modern times”.

The latest inductions of the Indian Navy warship INS Visakhapatnam and submarine INS Vela were also part of the Presidential Fleet Review.

The major thrust at the Review this year was on Make In India as 47 out of the 60 ships and submarines participating have been constructed in Indian shipyards showcasing indigenous capabilities and progress towards Atmanirbharta, the Indian Navy said.

Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral R Hari Kumar, had been overseeing the preparations for the Review since  February 19 when he reached Vishakhapatnam, and reviewed the overall preparations for the President’s Fleet Review (PFR).