INS Magar rests her oars after 36 years of service

KOCHI: INS Magar, the lead ship of Magar-class amphibious warfare vessels of the Indian Navy, was decommissioned on Saturday after 36 years of service. The vessel, which is the oldest Landing Ship Tank (Large) of the navy rested her oars at a decommissioning ceremony held at the South naval jetty in Kochi naval base at the sunset on Saturday.
Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Naval Command, Vice Admiral MA Hampiholi, who also had commanded INS Magar during 2005-06, was the Chief Guest for the ceremony. Air Marshal B Manikantan, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Air Command, the ship’s last commanding officer Cdr Hemant V Salunkhe, all former commanding officers, naval veterans, personnel from the armed forces and civil administration were also present.
At the sunset guard ceremony, the national flag, naval ensign and the decommissioning pennant of the ship were lowered for the last time at sunset in the traditional manner with a nine-man guard signifying the end of the ship’s commissioned service. A ship's timeline and special postal cover were also released during the event.
INS Magar was commissioned on July 18, 1987 at Garden Reach Shipyard and Engineers Limited, Kolkata by late Admiral RH Tahiliani, who was the Chief of the Naval Staff then. The ship had the unique distinction of being the first indigenous ship of the Indian Navy with more than 5500 Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT).
Over the last 36 years, the ship, which proved to be a doughty workhorse of the navy, has participated in numerous operations, amphibious exercises and humanitarian missions. They include milestone operations like Operation Pawan to support Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka and the Op Samudra Setu, wherein more than 4000 Indian nationals were repatriated from various corners of the world, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ship was also instrumental in evacuation of over 1300 survivors post Tsunami in 2004 and had been part of several joint military exercises with the Indian Army. In 2018, the ship was converted into a Training ship and joined the First Training Squadron at Kochi under the Southern Naval Command.
As a precursor to the decommissioning, various outreach activities were conducted by the ship including a blood donation camp in collaboration with Indian Medical Association (IMA) Kochi and a cycle expedition from Kochi to Trivandrum in February.