KOCHI (PTI): A delegation from the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) arrived in the city on Monday on a two-day visit to the naval base here.

It is headed by Commodore Fiona Therese Freeman, Director General of Hydrography, Meteorology and Oceanography (DGHM) and accompanied by Captain Simon John Bateman, Resident Defence Attach of Australia, a Defence release said here.

The visit is aimed at understanding Indian Naval Meteorology and Oceanography (IN METOC) operational/ training facilities and discussing avenues for mutual cooperation in the field of METOC, it said.

The delegation visited the Indian Naval Meteorological and Analysis Center, School of Naval Oceanology and Meteorology and INS Garuda, the Naval Air Station.

Commodore M K Singh, Principal Director, Directorate of Naval Oceanology and Meteorology at Naval Headquarters, New Delhi, was present to interact with the delegation on professional matters.

Apart from METOC facilities, the delegation also visited other training facilities such as the Navigation and Direction School and Anti-Submarine Warfare School.

The delegation called on Rear Admiral R J Nadkarni, Chief of Staff, Southern Naval Command on Monday and held discussions on Hydrography, Oceanography and areas of cooperation

Naval crests were exchanged during the interaction. They also visited INS Sutlej, a hydrographic survey ship of the Indian Navy.

India and Australia have close relations as members of the Commonwealth. There has been significant progress in Indo-Australian relations with improving economic and cultural ties.

Exchange of high-level military delegation visits and interaction between the navies is expected to further boost the defence cooperation.