Indian and Myanmar navies started their annual coordinated patrol.

Indian and Myanmar navies have started their annual maritime coordinated patrol, also called CORPAT, on May 20. This joint exercise will end on May 28.

UMS King TabinShweHtee and UMS Inlay are to undertake a coordinated patrol with INS Saryu (here on the picture) from May 20 to May 28 (Picture Source: Myanmar MoD)

Issues related to terrorism, illegal fishing, drug-trafficking, human-trafficking, poaching and other illegal activities inimical to the interest of both nations, naval ships from India and Myanmar have reached Port Blair.

These ships took part in the ‘Opening Ceremony’ of the 8th Indo-Myanmar coordinated patrol (IMCOR), at Andaman and Nicobar Command. Myanmar Navy Ship UMS King TabinShweHtee (773) and UMS Inlay (OPV-54) have reached Port Blair and the delegation led by Commodore Htein Win, Commander, Ayeyarwady Naval Command, called on Cmde Ashutosh Ridhorkar, Naval Component Commander on yesterday. Indian Naval Ship INS Saryu is taking part in this patrolling exercise.

The CORPAT initiative started in 2013 and has helped in enhancing the mutual understanding between the two countries and has also helped in improving professional interaction between the two navies for maritime interoperability.

Myanmar ships UMS King TabinShweHtee and UMS Inlay undertake a coordinated patrol with Indian Naval Ship Saryu from May 20-28 and this effort will be augmented by Maritime Patrol Aircraft from both the navies.

According to the official spokesperson of the Indian Navy Capt DK Sharma, “Naval ships from both sides would patrol along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) between the two countries covering a distance of approximately 725 Kms over a period of four days.”

They will also undertake joint manoeuvres and drills during the sea phase of the coordinated patrol (CORPAT) prior ‘Closing Ceremony’ of the CORPAT onboard Myanmar Naval Ship.