Article Posted on : - Jul 09, 2011

TCG Barbaros.

MUMBAI (PTI): Four Turkish Naval ships have arrived at the Mumbai coast on a four-day 'goodwill' visit to participate in combined exercises with their Indian counterpart, a press note released by the Defence Ministry said Friday.

TCG Barbaros, TCG YB Kudret Gungor, TCG Gemlik and TCG Gelibolu, which arrived Thursday, have about 950 Turkish Naval personnel on board.

Turkish ships along with front line ships of India's Western Naval Command will participate in combined exercises scheduled for July 11 and 12.

The four ships are part of the Combined Task Force 151 anti-piracy coalition and have been deployed in the Gulf of Aden.

After the port call, the Turkish ships will take part in the passage exercise on July 10 where the two sides will undertake anti-submarine warfare and coordinated attack drills, they said. 

The Indian Navy will field its destroyer INS Mumbai along with Beas class frigates INS Brahmputra and INS Betwa.

The exercise is taking place soon after Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma visited Turkey for four days last month.

Navy sources said Turkey has a strong shipping industry and there is great potential for partnership between the two countries in areas of shipbuilding.