Three ships from the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard – INS TIR, INS SHARDUL and ICGS VEERA of the Southern Naval Command - will dock at Jeddah Islamic Port on a goodwill visit from Mar. 26-29, a press statement of the Indian Consulate has said. The ships are commanded by Captain Ajay Sirohi, Captain Sanjay Sachdeva and Commandant V.K. Varghese. Goodwill visits to foreign lands by naval forces are routinely undertaken to enhance relations and foster greater defense cooperation between countries. The present deployment of the training squadron is aimed at strengthening friendship and cooperation with India's maritime neighbors. Three Indian naval ships visited Al-Jubail on Mar. 24–28, 2011, while two ships docked at Jeddah Islamic Port on May 22– 25, 2009. Two Royal Saudi Naval Forces ships, HMS DAMMAM and HMS YANBU, undertook a similar visit to Mumbai port in July 2008. The forthcoming visit to the Kingdom by the Indian naval ships will highlight the close, friendly and historical relationship between the two countries.
