Presidential Fleet Review: what Navy displays, and its significance
- President will take part in Indian Navy’s 12th Presidential Fleet Review.
What is the President’s Fleet Review?
- President is taken on one of the Naval ships, which is called President’s Yacht, to look at all the ships docked on one of the Naval ports.
- President’s Yacht this year is an indigenously built Naval OPV, INS Sumitra, which will lead Presidential Column.
- It will be distinguished by Ashoka Emblem on her side and will fly President’s Standard on Mast
Do all naval ships participate?
- No: idea is to showcase not all Navy’s ships, but every type of ship and kind of capabilities it has at that time.
- Monday’s fleet review in Vishakhapatnam President will review over 60 ships and submarines, and 55 aircraft, from Navy and Coast Guard.
What else happens in the fleet review?
- Each ship dressed in full regalia will salute President as he passes. \
- President will also review Indian Naval Air Arm in fly-past by several helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
- Final stage of review: mobile column of warships and submarines will steam past Presidential Yacht.
- As part of Sail Parade activities, six ocean-going Indian Naval Sailing Vessels arrived at Visakhapatnam from Goa.
- These are part of Ocean Sailing Node at INS Mandovi at Goa.
How many of these reviews have been held?
- There have been 11 President’s Fleet Reviews since Independence.
- The first was conducted in 1953, under Dr Rajendra Prasad.
- The next one was done not by President but by then Defence Minister in 1964.
- Since then, it has been the President reviewing the fleet.
- Longest gap between reviews was of 12 years — between 1989 and 2001
- Last one was done in 2016, under President Pranab Mukherjee.
What is its significance?
- It is one of the most important events for the Navy, to its allegiance and commitment to defending the country.
- It is a long-standing tradition followed by navies across the world
- According to Navy officials it is a strong bond that links seafarers of the world.
- Historically: Fleet Review is an assembly of ships at a pre-designated place for displaying loyalty and allegiance to Sovereign state.
- In turn Sovereign by reviewing ships, reaffirms his faith in the fleet and its ability to defend nation’s maritime interest.