After providing services to Indian Navy for a long period of thirty years, Varuna – The Indian Coast Guard Ship was retired or decommissioned by Indian Navy. The respectful ceremony was organized at the south jetty of the Southern Naval Command on Wednesday (23-8-2017). The ship was a highly important part of the Navy and was first training Squadron of the Navy. All special honours by Armed forces were given to the ship at the ceremony.
The ceremony was presided by K.R. Nautiyal (Inspector General), Commander of the Coast Guard Region (West). In his speech, he described about the valuable contribution of Varuna in the training of officers, trainees and commending the ship’s company for the yeomen service rendered for the past 30 years.
During a wonderful ceremony, with sunset the ‘Coast Guard Ensign’ was hauled down on the ship for the last time. There is tradition that whenever a ship is freed from its services, the Decommissioning Pennant equal to the length of the ship, is lowered. DIG Rajesh Mittal who was the commanding officer of Varuna commanded the ceremonial parade and made the final decommissioning report to the Commander, Coast Guard Region (West)
More about Varuna:
ICGS Varuna was made by Mumbai-based Mazagon Dock. It is the fourth in its class of offshore patrol vessels. The ship was a diverse success during its operations 1980s, Varuna was included in numerous apprehensions of smugglers with gold worth crores of rupees. ICGS Sarathi has replaced it in the First Training Squadron of the Indian Navy.
