INS Tarkash at Port Gentil, first-ever visit by an Indian Navy ship to Gabon

Tags: Defence International News

The Defence Ministry said on 26 September that INS Tarkash has visited a port in Gabon as part of an ongoing deployment in the Gulf of Guinea for anti-piracy patrols.

Important facts

• This marks the first visit by any Indian Naval Ship to Gabon.

• During its stay in port, the ship and its crew will participate in official and professional interactions as well as sport fixtures.

• Their professional interactions will include discussions and exercises on firefighting and damage control, medical and casualty evacuation issues, and dive operations.

• Apart from this, yoga sessions and social interactions are also planned.

About INS Tarkash

• INS Tarkash is a state-of-the-art stealth frigate of the Indian Navy.

• It is built by Yantar Shipyard at Kaliningrad, Russia.

• It is equipped with a versatile range of weapons and sensors capable of addressing threats in all three dimensions.

• The ship incorporates the latest stealth features such as low radar, infra-red, acoustic and magnetic signatures, making it difficult to detect at sea.

• The ship is part of the Western Fleet of the Indian Navy based at Mumbai under the Western Naval Command.

About Gabon

• It is a country on the west coast of Central Africa.

• Prime Minister - Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda

• President - Ali Ben Bongo Ondimba

• Capital - Libreville

• Official Language     - French