The PassEx – Passage Exercise – that the two visiting Indian naval ships, INS Aditya, and INS Delhi, will conduct with the Royal Saudi Navy (RSN) on Monday acquire an added significance in view of the piracy situation in the region, according to Rear Admiral S.P.S. Cheema, Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet. Answering a question during a press conference on board the INS Aditya on Saturday, that in view of the increasing problem of piracy in the region, was there any difference in the role of the navy, and whether any special measures were planned between the two navies, Cheema, who is flying his flag on the guided missile Destroyer INS Delhi, explained that piracy has been an ongoing thing since time immemorial. “Some times it raises its head in the Straits of Malacca, and sometimes in the Gulf of Aden,” he said. “Exercises such as PassEx help us learn each other's operating procedures. The idea is to get understanding so that as and when the need arises we can operate together,” he said, and stressed, “Today we have got a fair amount of confidence level of working with the RSN.” He said that countering piracy is one of the charters of any navy. “But, yes, with the Gulf of Aden, the piracy today has become a source of concern for all countries. There are a whole lot of navies that are operating there, including the RSN, and the IN. That is why PassEx becomes more critical because we need to understand how to operate with each other. When we understand this then during a chance encounter, we can mutually support each other, help each other towards thwarting any piracy,” he added. “We have been escorting ships – not just Indian, but any ship that is there in the area. The Indian naval ships' route is promulgated well in advance so whichever ship is coming we provide support and cover to it. When there is a distress call from any ship in the distance we respond to it by sending the ship or helicopter, whatever the case may be,” he said. Cheema said that the fact that the Indian Navy is strong and doing its role, the sea lanes of communications around India are safe. There is no piracy that takes place over there. The admiral stressed that India is totally committed to fighting piracy. From the Indian side there is no letup as far as anti-piracy measures are concerned. “We are having a naval ship around the clock 24/7 on patrol in the Gulf of Aden. Their presence is promulgated well in advance so that all the ship owners can direct their ships to take support of these ships that are present there to be escorted through the piracy
