Vice Admiral S.N. Ghormade on Saturday assumed charge as the Vice Chief of Naval Staff from Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar who retired after 39 years of service.
Vice Admiral Ghormade was commissioned in the Navy on January 1, 1984 and is a navigation and direction specialist, according to a Navy statement. He was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) in 2017 and Nausena Medal in 2007 by the President and Commendation by the Chief of the Naval Staff in 2000.
During Vice Adm Kumar’s tenure as Vice Chief, the Navy saw an increase in budget allocation with 100% utilisation of allocated budget with impetus on capital acquisition, the statement said. The first ever procurement case under the Strategic Partnership model for Project 75(I) was successfully progressed for issuance of Request For Proposal (RFP) during his tenure, it said.
The Navy’s INS Airavat rescued a fishing vessel which was adrift near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
According to the Navy, INS Airavat was transiting through the area on her return leg from Jakarta post successful delivery of COVID-19 relief material as part of Ops Samudra Setu II when it received a distress call from Saleth Matha II off Carnicobar, Andaman and Nicobar Islands at 2300 hrs on Friday.
“The Port Blair based fishing boat which is of 20 metres in length and seven crew had been drifting off Carnicobar... due to major defect in gear box since early morning on July 29,” the Navy said. Gusting winds more than 25 knots, swell up to 3.5 meters and intermittent rains because of active South West monsoon made connecting up the towing arrangements an extremely difficult task, the Navy said adding, INS Airavat is towing the vessel to the nearest harbour.