Article Posted on : - Jul 15, 2011

PORT BLAIR (PTI): The oldest commissioned ship of the Indian Navy, a landing ship tanker, 'Sharabh', was given a fond farewell after 35 years of service with a guard of honour and the naval band playing the Last Post.

The National Flag, Naval Ensign and the Decommissioning Pennant were hauled down for the last time at sunset symbolising the end of her service to the country, Indian Navy Public Relation Officer of Andaman & Nicobar Command Lt Commander Mannu Virk told to PTI.

The decommissioning ceremony was held at the Naval Jetty by Rear Admiral Karambir Singh, Chief of Staff, Andaman and Nicobar Command Thursday.

The tanker had the distinction of participating in numerous amphibious operations both on the Eastern and Western seaboards and landed troops and materials on all major and minor landing sites in the Andaman Sea region.

It also regularly participated in multinational exercises like MILAN, CORPAT, SIMBEX and PASSEX.

In her final year of commission the ship completed almost 100 days at sea and participated in India-Indonesian Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) at Belawan, Indonesia and the subsequent Passing Exercise (PASEX) in November 2010.

In recognition to her indomitable spirit and devotion, the ship was awarded the coveted "Unit Citation" by Chief of the Naval Staff in 2003.

INS Sharabh was commissioned in the Indian Navy in January 1976 at Gdynia, Poland.

Lt Cdr P C B Nair was the commissioning Commanding Officer of the ship and since was commanded subsequently by 28 officers in 35 years of commissioned service.

Cdr Sanjay Kumar was the last officer to command the ship.

The ship was also instrumental in apprehension of prohibited items off Tilanchang Island from Mynamarese poachers in January this year.