Kolkata, Mar 7 (IBNS): With the arrival of 11 foreign warships, the 10th edition of MILAN, a biennial congregation of friendly navies started on Tuesday in Port Blair.
The ships were escorted into the harbour by the Indian Naval Ships Baratang and Bangaram and also the Fast Interceptor Crafts of the Andaman & Nicobar Command.
These ships from the participating countries from Asia Pacific and Indian Ocean Regions, namely Australia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand, berthed at the Naval and Haddo jetties of Port Blair. Indian Naval Ships Sahyadri, Jyoti and Kirch from the Eastern Naval Command also reached Port Blair to participate in this multilateral exercise.
On their arrival at Haddo Jetty, all foreign warships were received ceremonially in the true naval tradition by the Army and Navy Bands, playing fanfare and martial tunes. Senior Officers from the Andaman and Nicobar Command including school children, waving flags of the participating countries also formed part of the welcome ceremony, read an officials statement.
In the evening, a band concert was held by the Andaman and Nicobar Command for the visiting foreign delegates and participants of MILAN 2018, including various dignitaries from the Armed Forces and the civil administration.
Admiral DK Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, VSM, NM (Retd.), Lieutenant Governor, Andaman & Nicobar was the chief guest for this musical extravaganza.
Vice Admiral Bimal Verma, AVSM, ADC, Commander-in-Chief, Andaman & Nicobar Command was also present there. The Navy Band from the Eastern Naval Command, Visakhapatnam with participation from the Army Band of 15 Assam, rendered a wide ranging repertoire which comprised of stirring martial music, arrangements of symphonies, overtures, concertos, Indian classical music, and a host of other forms of contemporary genres, including pop and folk music.
Commander Satish Champion, a licentiate in Military Music, was at the helm as the chief composer.
This prestigious international event will also see the participation of 39 delegates from 16 countries, making it the largest gathering since its inception in 1995.
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