Port Blair, July 31: The Naval Air Station, Campbell Bay was commissioned today as Indian Naval Ship Baaz by the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Nirmal Verma, PVSM, AVSM, ADC in a ceremony befitting the historic occasion.
Lt Gen NC Marwah, Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command received the CNS and in his opening address acknowledged the toil and vigil of many who have manned the Air Base in the run-up to the commissioning. Commander Sanjay Kumar Singh Deo, Commanding Officer (Designate), INS Baaz recited a Sanskrit invocation from the Atharva Veda and read the Commissioning Warrant. The Commissioning Plaque of INS Baaz was unveiled ceremonially by Smt Soena Sethi, wife of Commodore BC Sethi, Naval Component Commander, ANC thus formally naming the Naval Air Station.
In dedicating the Naval Air Station to the nation, Admiral Nirmal Verma, announced that ‘Baaz’ would be the ‘eagle’s eye’ over these waters, contributing to maritime security and stability. The crest of the Air Station depicts an Andaman Serpent Eagle flying against the blue background of the Ocean.
“The Commissioning is a significant step with the Government of India committed to augmenting resources to cater for operational requirements whilst remaining ever ready for supporting Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief. The Commissioning is being followed up by further extension of the runway of INS Baaz, so that the Air Station can support and serve a wider variety of aircraft,” Commander Subodh Kuamr the Public Relations Officer of Andaman Nicobar Command told told media today.
With the commissioning of INS Baaz, the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) takes another step significantly adding to capabilities and capacities.
