NewKerala.com

Key Points

The Indian Navy's INS Kochi arrived in Male to deliver the refitted Maldives Coast Guard ship Huravee. High Commissioner G Balasubramanian handed over the vessel to MNDF Chief Major General Ibrahim Hilmy. The visit strengthens maritime ties and includes bilateral engagements and sports events. INS Kochi, part of the Western Fleet, underscores India's commitment to regional security.

Key Points: INS Kochi Delivers Refitted Huravee Ship to Maldives in Male

  • INS Kochi delivers refitted Maldives Coast Guard ship Huravee
  • High Commissioner Balasubramanian hands over vessel to MNDF Chief
  • Bilateral meetings and sports fixtures planned during visit
  • Ship part of Indian Navy's Western Fleet based in Mumbai
2 min read

INS Kochi arrives at Male, hands over coast guard ship 'Huravee' to Maldives

Indian Navy's INS Kochi arrives in Male, hands over refitted MNDF CGS Huravee, reinforcing Indo-Maldives maritime ties.

"INS Kochi's visit highlights the strong maritime links between India and the Maldives and emphasises the Indian Navy's commitment to security, peace and freedom of navigation in the region. – Navy PRO, Kochi"

Male, May 1

Indian Navy's frontline Guided Missile Destroyer, INS Kochi, arrived in Maldives capital, Male, along with Maldives National Defence Forces (MNDF) CGS Huravee on Monday, which underwent Normal Refit at Naval Dockyard in Mumbai from December last year to April 2025.

India's High Commissioner to Maldives, G Balasubramanian, handed over MNDF CGS Huravee to Major General Ibrahim Hilmy, Chief of Defence Force, MNDF, at a ceremony held at the MNDF Coast Guard Jetty.

Navy PRO, Kochi noted, "INS Kochi's visit highlights the strong maritime links between India and the Maldives and emphasises the Indian Navy's commitment to security, peace and freedom of navigation in the region. In keeping with the two nations' friendly relations, Maldivian authorities warmly welcomed the ship."

As part of the ship's visit, Captain Mahesh C Moudgil, Commanding Officer, INS Kochi, called on Major General Ibrahim Hilmy, Chief of Defence Force, MNDF and Brigadier General Mohammed Saleem, Commandant, Coast Guard MNDF.

During the ship's stay in harbour, bilateral meetings, cross-deck visits and sports fixtures have been planned between the Indian Navy and the MNDF, according to Navy PRO, Kochi release.

Notably, INS Kochi was commissioned on September 30 in 2015 and is part of the Indian Navy's Western Fleet, which is based in Mumbai under the Western Naval Command.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

Here are 5 diverse Indian perspective comments for the article:
R
Rajesh K.
This is a great example of India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy in action! 🇮🇳🤝 Helping Maldives strengthen their maritime security ultimately benefits the entire Indian Ocean region. More such collaborations please!
P
Priya M.
While I appreciate the gesture, I hope our government is also getting some strategic benefits in return. We must be careful about giving away too much without ensuring our own security interests in the region.
A
Amit S.
INS Kochi is a beauty! Saw it during Navy Day celebrations last year. Proud to see our naval ships representing India abroad. The sports fixtures between navies are a nice touch - builds camaraderie beyond just formal relations.
S
Sunita R.
Good initiative but I wish media would cover more about the actual technical aspects of the refit. How has the ship been upgraded? What capabilities does it give Maldives? As taxpayers, we deserve more details about such defense collaborations.
V
Vikram J.
This is how soft power works! Instead of flexing military muscle, we're building trust through cooperation. Smart move considering China's growing interest in Maldives. Hope we continue this approach with other neighbors too.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50