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An Indian Navy officer
at the gate to the naval base at Mumbai, India, where the sign
Bridges of Friendship welcomes participants from 19 countries
to the International Fleet Review.
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The
Indian Navy hosted 25 foreign naval vessels from 19 countries at the
first-ever International Fleet Review held in Mumbai (formerly Bombay),
India, 15-20 February 2001. The theme of the review, "Bridges of Friendship,"
was aimed at bringing men-of-war together in a gesture of peace and
good will. Including the Indian Navy, 79 ships and submarines participated
in the event, which involved seminars, speeches, parades and a review
by the President of India, His Excellency Shri K. R. Narayanan.
Foreign navies were represented by Australia, Bangladesh, France, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Morocco, Oman, Poland, Russia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, United Kingdom, and the United States. Approximately 3,000 foreign naval personnel participated in the International Fleet Review.
The theme, "Bridges of Friendship," hit the mark as an avenue for these foreign sailors and over 10,000 Indian sailors to meet in a friendly setting. Friendships lead to understanding. Through understanding, mariners can learn to overcome hurdles and communicate more effectively, thus making the open sea a safer place to work and operate.
