Mangalore: Excited Locals Throng NMPT to View Anchored Ships, Return Disappointed
 
Prakash Samaga
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS)
 
Mangalore, Jan 14: When the organizer announced at the Hariharan musical concert in Mangala stadium on Friday January 13 that public could view two luxury ships, INS Jamuna and INS Trinkat anchored at NMPT the next day, excitement filled the air and an eager wait began. Newspapers too carried the announcement.
 
However, when Saturday January 14 dawned, about 100 enthusiastic people who thronged NMPT gate were in for a huge disappointment as personnel of central industrial security force denied entry to the public, reasoning that they were directed by the authorities to allow only those who have national youth festival identity cards.

Even those of Daman and Diu comprising 40 people could see only one ship. They were taken in a bus inside the port and dropped near where 'Jamuna', a survey ship was anchored.
 
'Jamuna', based at Karwar naval base, has four floors, seven decks, and a compartment where operations are handled. There are eight such survey ships with Indian naval hydrographic department, three being based at Vishakapatnam, three at Karwar and two at Cochin.

Another ship, ‘Trinkat’ which was not shown to public as per official instructions, is a fast attack craft used during emergency, informed Lt Bhojraj S, in charge of 'Jamuna', while speaking to Daijiworld.
 
The two ships arrived in Mangalore and were anchored for two days, however, on day one, that is Friday, the public were denied permission to see it. On Saturday, only those who possessed National Youth Festival identity card could gain entry to the ship.
 
'Jamuna' houses 160 crew members and 16 officers. Inside the captain’s cabin, there are communication equipment and radar system which alert the captain about any disturbance from a distance of 96 nautical miles (about 200 km).
 
There is also a kitchen, supervised by steward  Dharmaranjan. Captain of the ship B K Prasanna said that state administration had requested them to allow  youth during 17th Youth Festival in Mangalore, in a bid to evoke their interest in Navy. As stated, only those with identity cards were allowed in, not the youth among the public.

'Jamuna' was commissioned in the year 1990 and was closely associated with the relief operations in the wake of Gujarat earthquake. The ships are also used during natural disasters and as hospital ships.

INS Jamuna has the honour of participating in the Operation Vijay at Kargil and awarded the Mention in Dispatches.
 
INS Trinkat is a fast craft of Indian Navy based in Mumbai under the administrative command of Flag Officer Command of Maharashtra and Goa Navy Area.

The craft is equipped with modern weapons and sensors for guarding the coastline and complimented with 4 officers and 40 sailors. The vessel has carried out various anti-piracy operations in the coastline.
 
Nevertheless, the 100-odd people who had gathered near NMPT at around 11 am on Saturday were of the opinion that locals were being treated unjustly by the NMPT and that this was not the first time. A few months back a similar incident had happened wherein locals where denied permission to see the ships.