The port call includes professional engagements, cross ship visits, and community outreach

Three ships of the Indian Navy's First Training Squadron (1TS) - INS Tir, INS Sujata, and CGS Sarathi - arrived in Port Al-Shuwaikh, Kuwait, on Tuesday on an exchange visit. The ships are in the Persian Gulf as part of their training deployment, India's Ministry of Defence said on Wednesday.

The three-day port call includes professional engagements, cross ship visits, community outreach and social interactions, the ministry added.

Senior officers of the Kuwaiti Navy, members of the Border Guard, and representatives of the Indian Embassy, among others, gave the ships a warm welcome.

The ships of 1TS, based at Kochi, are part of the Southern Naval Command, Indian Navy’s Training Command.

The Mazgaon Dock Limited in Mumbai built the first specifically designed cadet training ship, INS Tir, which was commissioned on February 21, 1986.

On November 3, 1993, the Indian Navy launched the Sukanya class offshore patrol vessel INS Sujata, which was manufactured entirely domestically. The well-equipped offshore patrol (OPV) vessel "CGS Sarathi" was launched at Goa Shipyard Ltd. on September 12.

The ministry pointed out that the deployment of 1TS is intended to expose the trainees to the conduct of various evolutions at sea and port familiarisation. The present deployment also provides an opportunity in exposing the trainees to the sociopolitical, military and maritime linkages of India with friendly countries in our maritime neighbourhood, the ministry added.

With a long history of goodwill, Kuwait and India have close ties in various facets. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between both countries.