Vice Admiral Anil Chopra today took over the reins as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, eastern naval command, from outgoing Vice Admiral Anup Singh at a ceremonial parade held at the naval base in Visakhapatnam.
Chopra was earlier associated with the command in the capacity of the Chief of Staff, Headquarters.
Vice Admiral Anup Singh, who retired today after a service of 38 years, was given a fond farewell by the officers and staff of the eastern naval command.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Singh said, "the eastern seaboard had grown in prominence over years as was witnessed by the enhanced interaction with regional neighbours like Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and other states of the South East Asia."
"Commissioning of new Landing Ship Tanks (LST-Large), Fast Attack Crafts (FACs), Air Squadrons, Air Stations and launch of the first indigenous strategic submarine at Visakhapatnam have all firmly placed the eastern naval command on the centerstage in consonance with the Look East Policy of our country," Singh said.
Fast Attack Craft INS Cora Divh, Cheriyam, Kondul, Cankarso and Koswari added teeth to the coastal security set up, while stealth frigate INS Shivalik and tanker INS Shakti enhanced the fighting prowess and reach of the eastern fleet in the last two-and-a-half years.
Chopra inspected the ceremonial guard and reviewed platoons of the naval personnel drawn from various ships and establishments of the eastern naval command on the occasion.
