AFVOA Newsletter 03 of 2020

Section 5 - Memoirs CV 2 No. 03 / 2020 Page 146 of 167 06 Feb 2016 IFR Vizag 65 IN 24 FN 3 45 Navy 9 CG 4 3 President Pranab Mukerjee For the first time on 17 Feb 2001, Indian Navy conducted IFR (International Fleet Review) in Bombay Harbour where Ships from foreign Navies participated when Mr KR Narayanan was the President. The theme was “Bridges of Friendship’. The second IFR was conducted 15 years later on 06 Feb 2016 on the Eastern Seaboard off Visakhapatnam when Mr Pranab Mukerjee was the President. The theme was ‘United through Oceans’. Conduct of Review The Presidential Review is an impressive ceremony, second only to the Republic Day Parade. Naval ships and ships from maritime organisations like the Coast Guard, the Merchant Navy, the National Institute of Oceanography, the Oil and Natural Gas Commission and Naval Yard craft are anchored precisely in neat lines and dressed overall. The President embarks in a naval ship nominated as the Presidential Yacht which flies the President's Colour. After receiving a 21-gun salute, the President reviews the Fleet by cruising past each line of ships. Each ship's side is manned by her ships company in white ceremonial uniform. As the President passes by, each ships company, in unison, `take off' their caps in salutation and give three resounding `Jais'.