International Fleet Review 2016

International Fleet Review 2016
Duration Five days
Date 4–8 February 2016 (2016-02-04 – 2016-02-08)
Venue Eastern Naval Command
Location Vishakapatnam, India
Coordinates 17°41′45″N 83°16′51″E / 17.695811°N 83.280709°E / 17.695811; 83.280709Coordinates: 17°41′45″N 83°16′51″E / 17.695811°N 83.280709°E / 17.695811; 83.280709
Also known as IFR 2016
Type Military exercise
Theme United through Oceans
Patron(s) Government of India
Organised by Indian Navy
Participants
Press release GWAW15001898_IFR press release
Publication Ahoy IFR 2016
Website IFR 2016 website
Passage Exercise (PASSEX) during Fleet Review

International Fleet Review 2016 (IFR 2016) was an international maritime exercise hosted and conducted by the Indian Navy on behalf of the President of India in February 2016 to improve relations with other navies in the region. The Indian Navy demonstrated its maritime capabilities to the foreign navies participating in the review.[4]

A fleet review is a gathering of naval ships for observation by a reigning monarch or their representative. In Indian events, the President of India reviews the fleet of the Indian Navy. Past fleet reviews in India include a 2006 review conducted by president A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, the first public naval fleet review outside Mumbai.[5]

Two other notable international fleet reviews were held before 2016: the International Fleet Review 2005 in the United Kingdom and the International Fleet Review 2013 in Australia. IFR 2016 was the second international fleet review conducted in India; the first, in Mumbai in 2001, had 29 participants. A total of 95 warships from 50 navies, including the Indian Navy, participated in IFR 2016.[6][7] The review, conducted from 4 to 8 February 2016 in Visakhapatnam, was organized by the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy.[8]

Announcement

Six motorcyclists at a war memorial in the mountains
Eastern Naval Command motorcycle expedition team at the Jaswantgarh War Memorial in Arunachal Pradesh. A motorcycle expedition for the upcoming IFR began in April 2015 at Eastern Naval Command headquarters.

IFR 2016 was announced at a press conference in New Delhi on 14 October 2015. At the conference, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral RK Dhowan announced the Indian Navy's plan to conduct an international fleet review on the eastern seaboard at Visakhapatnam on 4–8 February 2016.[9]

Events

4 February

A man lays a floral wreath, surrounded by four other men
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu paid homage to India's war dead in a wreath-laying ceremony.

A wreath-laying ceremony was held during the afternoon of 4 February at the 1971 War Memorial. Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chief of Naval Staff of India Admiral Dhowan and Eastern Naval Command flag officer Vice-Admiral Satish Soni laid a wreath at the Victory at Sea Memorial in tribute to the Indian Navy sailors killed in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, and a guard of honour paraded. Eastern Naval Command Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Bimal Kumar Verma and other dignitaries and representatives of foreign navies were present at the ceremony.[10][11][12][13][14]

The maritime exhibition's theme was Make in India, showcasing the country's innovation, indigenisation and potential. With participating industries which float, move and fly, the exhibition was opened to the public on 2 February.[15][16][17]

5 February

Uniformed man at a table, flanked by two other men
Naval Chief of Staff Admiral Robin K. Dhowan addressed the media at the IFR 2016 press conference in New Delhi.

Naval Chief of Staff Admiral Robin K. Dhowan hosted a press conference at the Novotel Convention Centre, in which delegates from the navies participating in the review took part.[10][18] An opening ceremony was held at INS Satavahana.[10][19]

6 February

President Mukherjee standing and watching the ships pass
Indian President Pranab Mukherjee reviewing the international fleet

The Indian Navy fleet and foreign naval ships were reviewed by the supreme commander of the Indian armed forces, President of India Pranab Mukherjee. Ships from the Indian Coast Guard and the mercantile marine and the Indian Naval Air Arm were also reviewed.[3][10][20][21][22]

President Mukherjee saluting, surrounded by a naval guard of honour
President Mukherjee with the ceremonial guard of honour

The naval band presented a concert at the Samudrika Naval Auditorium.[8][23] The Indian Navy hosted a presidential banquet in the Eastern Naval Command officers' mess attended by central- and state-government dignitaries, chiefs of foreign navies, heads of delegations, and Indian and foreign participants in the IFR.[24]

7 February

A two-day international maritime conference began on 7 February with the theme, "Partnering together for a secure maritime future".[22][25] The Navy conducted a parade and a 30-minute operation demonstration at RK Beach in Vishakhapatnam. Contingents of the Indian Armed Forces, the Andhra Pradesh Police, the National Cadet Corps and foreign navies and their bands marched in the parade. Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced a book about India's maritime heritage during the event. The parade ended with a reception hosted by Chief of Naval Staff Dhowan honouring the prime minister.[26][27][28][29]

8 February

An international band concert was presented at the naval institute as part of the IFR 2016 closing ceremony.[30][31][32]

Large group photograph
Group photo of delegates at the IFR 2016 closing ceremony

Participating ships

Seventy-one ships from the Indian Navy participated in the review, including aircraft carriers, submarines, frigates, destroyers, corvettes, sailing vessels, and amphibious warfare vessels.[3][21] Most were from the navy's Eastern Naval Command.[20] Twenty-four foreign ships and 50 foreign navies also participated.[3][6][21] Delegations from Argentina, Bahrain, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Djibouti, Egypt, Fiji, Germany, Greece, Israel, Kenya, South Korea, Namibia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey and Turkmenistan were in attendance.[33][34]

Green initiative

Small grey-and-green boat
Biodiesel-powered Indian Navy fast attack craft on patrol during IFR 2016

As part of its green initiative, the Indian Navy showcased two fast interceptor craft (FIC) which use biodiesel and have replaced the incandescent lamps on its ships with LED light bulbs.[35]

Passage exercise (PASSEX)

The International Fleet Review ended with the participating ships undertaking a passage exercise (PASSEX) in the Bay of Bengal on 9 February. The exercise was conducted in two formations, with the aircraft carriers INS Vikramaditya and INS Viraat each heading a formation. The first group was headed by the Vikramaditya, commanded by Western Fleet Rear Admiral Ravneet Singh; the second was headed by the Viraat, commanded by Eastern Fleet Rear Admiral S. V. Bhokare. A helicopter from HMS Defender landed on the Viraat, commemorating the carrier's historic ties with the Royal Navy.[36][37]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to IFR 2016.

References

  1. ↑ Ruchi Bambha. "International Fleet Review 2016 curtain raiser: 6 key things to know". ET. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  2. ↑ "52 countries to take part in IFR-2016". The Hindu. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 IANS. "President, PM Modi review naval fleet". India Today. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  4. ↑ "International Fleet Review in Vizag from Feb 4". Business Standard. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  5. ↑ "President arrives for fleet review". The Hindu. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  6. 1 2 Ankit Panda (8 February 2016). "With Over 50 Navies Participating, India Concludes 2016 International Fleet Review". The Diplomat. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  7. ↑ Ateeq Sk (2 September 2015). "After 15 years, second International Fleet Review to be held at Visakhapatnam in February". DNA India. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  8. 1 2 "Introduction to IFR 2016". Indian Navy. Govt. of India. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  9. ↑ "International Fleet Review 2016". Press Information Bureau (Press release). Government of India Ministry of Defence. 14 October 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "Event Schedule IFR". Indian Navy. Government of India. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  11. ↑ G.S. Subrahmanyam (5 February 2016). "Naidu pays tributes to martyrs". The Hindu. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  12. ↑ "IFR 16 – Wreath Laying Ceremony and Inauguration of Maritime Exhibition". Indian Navy. Govt. of India. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  13. ↑ Press Trust of India. "AP CM, Naval officers pay homage to war heroes". India Today. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  14. ↑ "Wreath Laying Organized". Business Standard. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  15. ↑ "Maritime Exhibition, IFR Village from Feb. 2". The Hindu. 28 January 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  16. ↑ "Maritime Exhibition and IFR Village". Indian Navy. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  17. ↑ Express News Service (20 January 2016). "IFR to Open with CM Launching Maritime Expo on February 4". Indian Express. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  18. ↑ "Press Conference by CNS RK Dhowan at International Fleet Review". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  19. ↑ "Opening Ceremony". Indian Navy. Govt. of India. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  20. 1 2 PTI. "President Pranab Mukherjee reviews naval fleet at IFR, PM Narendra Modi and Manohar Parrikar also present". The Economic Times. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  21. 1 2 3 "President reviews international fleet". The Telegraph. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  22. 1 2 "International Fleet Review – 2016". Indian Navy. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  23. ↑ "Indian Naval Band Concert". International Fleet Review 2016. Indian Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  24. ↑ "Presidential Banquet". International Fleet Review 2016. Indian Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  25. ↑ "IFR turning out to be a bigger event". The Hindu. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  26. ↑ "IFR 16: Operational Demonstration and the International City Parade". Indian Navy. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  27. ↑ "International Fleet Review 2016: PM Narendra Modi to review city parade as chief guest". Zee News. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  28. ↑ "PM Modi to review International City Parade at IFR today". DNA India. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  29. ↑ "Percept ICE Successfully Manages The International City Parade". MediaInfoline. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  30. ↑ "Closing Ceremony". International Fleet Review 2016. Indian Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  31. ↑ "Closing Ceremony of International Fleet Review 2016". Indian Navy. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  32. ↑ Ankit Panda. "With Over 50 Navies Participating, India Concludes 2016 International Fleet Review". The Diplomat. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  33. ↑ "All You Need to Know About International Fleets Participating in IFR 2016". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  34. ↑ "100 Ships from 60 Nations: Vizag Braces for it's Biggest Fleet Review in 2016". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  35. ↑ Manu Pubby (5 February 2016). "Navy to showcase warship running on biofuel at Vizag". Economic Times. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  36. ↑ Ministry of Defence; DKS/CG. "IFR 2016 – Passage Exercise – AU Revoir till we Meet Again". Press Information Bureau. Government of India. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  37. ↑ "Image of the day: Farewell PASSEX at IFR 2016". Naval Today. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
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