Port Blair, Mar 26: Around 100 Cadets including girls from across the Islands of Army and Navy alongwith ANO’s visited FDN-I (Floating Dork Navy-I) on 24/03/9013 the only floating Dock of the Armed Forces which is anchored at Port Blair. Addressing the cadets commodore R.Srinivas, the commodore Supdt. Of the Yard, NSRY explained about the operation of FDN-I which is an Engineering Marvel of the Yard.
He said that FDN-I for dry docking Indian Navy Ships for carrying out bottom cleaning, Hull repairs etc. This type of docking is more suited for the A&N Islands being earthquake prone, because the shore dry docks may develop cracks during earthquakes.
He also motivated the NCC cadets to try to join the services since all of them will acquire Certificate ‘C’ by the end of the year. The cadets were later shown around the FDN-I and explained the operations by the professionals on board. The cadets were thrilled to understand the operation of dry docking the ships by pumping out and pumping in of the sea water to the ballast tanks of the FDN-I with its gigantic pumps with the capacity of 10,000 metric tonnes per hour.
They were provided refreshments and also taken for a harbour cruise on board F.C. Manoram. The cadets who were part of the preparatory camp for the ‘C’ Certificate exam had an excellent and memorable evening on completion of the exam. Later the Commanding Officer Cdr. John E Mathew and Lt. Col. Vishal Dubey thanked the ANC and commodore R. Srinivas and his team for facilitating the visit of FDN-I.
