A high-level team from the United States on Tuesday called on Visakhapatnam Port Trust Chairman M.T. Krishna Babu to find out security available for the friendly naval exercises planned between India and their country.
The team comprised LCDR Joseph Jankola, Assistant Naval Attache, Malta Sanchez Jorge, Defense Attache Operations, Rollins Donald and David Thomas Chaffin, NCIS Security Coordinators and Dass Lawrence, Liaison to the Defense Attache Office.
Mr. Krishna Babu stated that the CISF was manning the port area and they were well secured with the coordination and cooperation of Coastal Marine Police, Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy. He welcomed the team and briefed them about port operations, various cargoes handled, the infrastructure facilities available, pilotage and anchorage of vessels, the availability of berths in the Inner Harbour and Outer Harbour, the draft and overall length of berths.
Taking stock
The US team said the aim to visit Visakhapatnam Port was to have first-hand information on the security of the US crew members and the US vessels while berthing at the port and the logistic arrangements, immigrations process and access control during the proposed friendly naval exercises.