PUNE: A first of its kind in Asia, Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) training facility was inaugurated at INS Shivaji, Lonavala, by Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba. Till date, the Navy has been only focusing on theory aspect of the NBC. The new facility, which is open to Army, Air Force and police units also, will help impart realistic training.
Admiral Lanba said, “The training facility has been named ‘Abhedya’ meaning ‘impenetrable’, symbolising the protective cover that is provided on naval ships which are fitted with Nuclear, Biological and Chemical detection and protection systems. The facility will provide realistic training to naval personnel in detection, protection against and decontamination of NBC agents. It is very significant for the Navy in the current world scenario.”
Officials said that all Navy personnel will get the training here as all the warships have been designed to thwart NBC attack. The Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Defence (NBCD) school is mandated with two core tasks, the primary task being the conduct of NBCD training for personnel from the Indian Navy, Indian Army, Indian Air Force, Coast Guard, defence civilians and international trainees. The secondary task of the school is to conduct functional trials of new induction equipment and acceptance trials of NBCD equipment fitted on new construction ships. To fulfil its primary task, the school is equipped with state-of-the-art simulators, ‘AKSHAT’ for damage control, ‘AJAR’ for fire fighting and ‘ABHEDYA’ for NBC training.
A walk around of the establishment was also conducted for the Chief of Naval Staff where he reviewed various state-of-the-art training facilities and other infrastructure. The CNS acknowledged the contribution of successive commissions in the establishment’s growth since its inception keeping pace with changing trends and technical advancements in imparting quality professional training. The Admiral also interacted with officers, sailors, defence civilians, DSC personnel as well as international trainees during his visit.
Reena Lanba, President Navy Wives Welfare Association (NWWA) also interacted with the ladies of the station and visited various NWWA facilities. She appreciated the efforts of the ladies in community support.
CRUX OF THE MATTER
- INS Shivaji celebrates ‘Platinum Jubilee Year’
- INS Shivaji, Lonavala, will celebrate 2019-20 as the ‘Platinum Jubilee Year’. The premier category ‘A’ training establishment of the Indian Navy, commissioned as HMIS Shivaji in 1945, has entered her 75th year of commission, rendering yeoman service to the nation by imparting training in engineering discipline to personnel of the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and several friendly foreign countries.
- Admiral Sunil Lanba who visited INS Shivaji on March 24 and 25, launched INS Shivaji website on the Indian Navy’s Portal on the internet and released the platinum jubilee logo with the theme ‘propelling the Indian Navy since 1945’. The event was also attended by Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, Chief of Material and other Senior Officers and dignitaries of Indian Navy.
