Article Posted on : - Jul 12, 2016

VISAKHAPATNAM (PTI): Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba on Monday highlighted the importance of the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) and termed it as the "pride" of the maritime force.

The city-headquartered Command is the "pride" of the Indian Navy on the eastern seaboard, he said.

"It is not only our eastern shield, but also our eastern punch. It has shaped a favourable maritime environment in countries around the Bay of Bengal and South East Asia, extended a helping hand in times of crises and also deterred those with ill intentions towards our nation," he said.

The Chief of Naval Staff was speaking after reviewing a ceremonial parade held in his honour at INS Circars Parade Ground in Visakhapatnam.

He inspected a 50-man armed guard and reviewed the platoons of Naval and DSC personnel drawn from various ships and establishments of the Command.

The primary responsibility of every organisation afloat and ashore, also of every individual of ENC, is to ensure all sea-going platforms remain combat-ready at all times, the Admiral said.

The Navy chief arrived in Visakhapatnam on Sunday on a three-day visit to the ENC.

Admiral Lanba will leave for New Delhi on Tuesday after attending commissioning ceremony of a batch of MARCOS (marine commandos) inside INS Kalinga, a Naval establishment at Bheemunipatnam in the district.