President Ram Nath Kovind is expected to take part in the Indian Navy’s 12th Presidential Fleet review.
The President’s Fleet Review in simple words is the country’s President taking stock of the Indian Navy’s capabilities. It showcases all types of ships and all the capabilities the Indian Navy has. The Fleet Review takes place at least once under every President as he is the supreme commander of the Armed Forces of the country.
The President is usually taken on one of the Navy’s ships which are called the ‘President’s Yacht’, he then looks at all the ships that are docked on one of the Naval ports of the nation. As per a statement released by the Indian Navy, the President’s Yacht this year will be INS Sumitra which is an indigenously built Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel and it will be leading the Presidential Column. The Yacht of the President will be featuring the Ashoka Emblem distinguishing it from the other ships on its side and will be flying the President’s Standard on its mast.
So far, India has conducted 11 Presidential Fleet Reviews of the Indian Navy since the independence of the nation. Two of these reviews were turned into an international event once in 2001, and in 2016 as well. It is considered second only to the Republic Day Parade, according to the statement by the Indian Navy.
The President will also be given a 21-gun salute before taking off on the Yacht. All the naval ships do not take part in the event. The idea of the review is to showcase every type of ship and the kind of capabilities it has at that given point of time rather than all the Naval ships of the Indian Navy. The review on Monday will be taking place in Vishakhapatnam and the President of India, this time, would be reviewing more than 60 ships and submarines and 55 aircraft from the Indian Navy and Coast guard.
President’s Yacht will be sailing past the 44 ships that will be lined up at anchorage off Vishakhapatnam and there will be a combination of Naval ships from the Indian Navy along with the Coast Guard. There will be some vessels from the Shipping Corporation of India along with the Ministry of Earth Sciences. The review is also inclusive of the merchant ships.
In the fleeting review, each ship is usually dressed in full array and salutes the President as he passes. The President also reviews the Indian Naval Air Arm in a spectacular fly-past display by various helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. In the final stage of the fleeting review, a mobile column of warships and submarines would steam past the yacht of the President.
The vessels that are being showcased in the review include the Indian Navy’s latest acquisitions. All ships at the anchorage have been dressed ceremoniously with several Naval flags in full regalia and have been illuminated from sunset to midnight on February 19 and February 20 this year.
