KOCHI. A delegation from the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), headed by Commodore Fiona Therese Freeman, Director General of Hydrography, Meteorology and Oceanography (DGHM) and accompanied by Captain Simon John Bateman, Resident Defence Attaché of Australia, are on a visit to naval base, Kochi on May 28-29. The visit is aimed at understanding Indian Naval Meteorology and Oceanography (IN METOC) operational/ training facilities and discussing avenues for mutual cooperation in the field of METOC.

The delegation visited Indian Naval Meteorological and Analysis Center (INMAC), School of Naval Oceanology and Meteorology (SNOM), and INS Garuda, the Naval Air Station. Commodore MK Singh, Principal Director, Directorate of Naval Oceanology and Meteorology at Naval Headquarters, New Delhi, was present to interact with the delegation on professional matters. Apart from METOC facilities, the delegation also visited other training facilities such as the Navigation & Direction School and Anti-Submarine Warfare School.

The RAN delegation called on Rear Admiral RJ Nadkarni, VSM, Chief of Staff, Southern Naval Command on 28 May 18 and held discussions on Hydrography, Oceanography and areas of cooperation. Naval crests were exchanged during the interaction. They also visited INS Sutlej, a hydrographic survey ship of the Indian Navy.

India and Australia have close relations, as members of the Commonwealth. There has been significant progress in Indo-Australian relations with improving economic and cultural ties. Exchange of high level military delegation visits and interaction between the navies is expected to further boost the defence cooperation.