A welcoming ceremony was held, yesterday, at Port Louis harbour, to mark the arrival of the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Darshak. This event ensures a further collaboration between the Republic of Mauritius and the Republic of India in the field of hydrography, and is in line with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) previously signed between the two countries back in 2005.
The Acting High-Commissioner of India to Mauritius, Mr Vimarsh Aryan; the Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Housing and Land Use Planning, Mr Avisham Joyram; the Principal Surveyor of Mauritius Hydrographic Service, Ministry of Housing and Land Use Planning; the Commanding Officer of the INS Darshak, Mr Ajay Chauhan; and other personalities attended the ceremony.
In his address, Mr Aryan emphasised Mauritius’ strategic position in global trade and highlighted its pivotal location for ocean trade routes, where 90% of the nation’s trade flows through maritime channels with over 3,000 annual ship visits. He underscored the critical role of hydrography in securing the Exclusive Economic Zone, which is essential for safe navigation and acts as the cornerstone for various marine activities, including tourism, fishing, and environmental conservation. This emphasis on hydrography gained further significance following the signature of bilateral agreements between Mauritius and India, in line with Mauritius’ vision to bolster its blue economy, he added.
Reflecting on the historic 75th anniversary of the Mauritius-India ties, Mr Aryan affirmed India’s commitment to collaborative development. The shared maritime security vision of both countries acts as a catalyst for establishing a robust hydrographic infrastructure in Mauritius, he observed.
Moreover, Mr Aryan underlined the prospect for on-the-job ship training and urged the Mauritian Government to capitalise on this unique initiative. He stressed on the rarity of such specialised training globally, while emphasising its potential to significantly enhance Mauritius’ hydrographic capabilities. With various personnel set to undergo this training, he advocated seizing this opportunity to fortify the nation’s maritime prowess, aligning with India’s expertise and support in the journey towards comprehensive hydrographic advancement and maritime development.
Mr Joyram, for his part, outlined the significance of INS Darshak’s 16th deployment in Mauritian waters for comprehensive hydrographic surveys. This continued commitment, he added, bears testimony to India’s unwavering support and bolsters bilateral relations in addition to fostering advancements in crucial hydrographic expertise essential for regional socio-economic growth.
Furthermore, he stated that the collaboration between the two countries aims to harness strengths for the peaceful use of Indian Ocean resources. He also remarked that hydrography plays a pivotal role in both countries’ socio-economic activities.
As for Mr Chauhan, he dwelt on INS Darshak’s renewed objectives and tasks for the year and on its role as a guiding force for seafarers. He underscored the significant collaboration between the Republic of Mauritius and the Republic of India in hydrography, as evidenced by the training provided to local participants.
