Mission Sagar - II

Why in NEWS ?

• As part of ‘Mission Sagar-II’, Indian Naval Ship Airavat entered Port Sudan on 02 November 2020, handing over Food Aid to Sudan.

About

• The Government of India is providing assistance to Friendly Foreign Countries to overcome natural calamities and COVID-19 pandemic, and towards the same INS Airavat is carrying a consignment of 100 Tonnes of food aid for the people of Sudan.

Mission Sagar-II

• Mission Sagar-II, follows the first ‘Mission Sagar’ undertaken in May-June 2020, wherein India reached out to Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar and Comoros, and provided food aid and medicines.
• As part of Mission Sagar-II, Indian Naval Ship Airavat will deliver food aid to Sudan, South Sudan, Djibouti and Eritrea.
• Mission Sagar-II, is in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region ‘SAGAR’ and highlights the importance accorded by India to relations with her maritime neighbours and further strengthens the existing bond.
• The Indian Navy is progressing this mission in close coordination with the Ministries of Defence and External Affairs, and other agencies of the Government of India.
• Under the Mission, India has-

• Deployed Medical Assistance Teams in Mauritius and Comoros, helping their Governments deal with Covid emergency and in case of Comoros, with dengue fever also.
• Delivered consignments of Covid related essential medicines to Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles and about 600 tonnes of food items to Maldives.
• In addition, in case of Mauritius, a special consignment of Ayurvedic medicines was also being sent.
• The consignments also include Hydroxychloroquine tablets.

Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)

• SAGAR was launched in 2015.
• It is India’s strategic vision for the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
• Through SAGAR, India seeks to deepen economic and security cooperation with its maritime neighbours and assist in building their maritime security capabilities.
• Further, India seeks to safeguard its national interests and ensure Indian Ocean region to become inclusive, collaborative and respect international law.
• The key relevance of SAGAR emerges when seen in conjunction with India’s other policies impacting the maritime domain like Act East Policy, Project Sagarmala, Project Mausam, India as ‘net security provider’, focus on Blue Economy etc.
• SAGAR highlights the importance accorded by India to relations with her neighbouring countries and further strengthens the existing bond.

INS AIRAVAT

• INS Airavat is the third Shardul-class amphibious warfare vessel of the Indian Navy.
• It began sea trials in July 2008 after completing basin trials in May 2008.
• It was commissioned at the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam on 19 May 2009.
• INS AIRAVAT was named for the mount of god Indra, the elephant Airavata, as mentioned in the Rigveda.
• INS Airavat was built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers in Kolkata at Yard 3016.
• Safety features include :

1. Anti-roll flume stabilisation system,
2. Smoke curtains to impede spreading of smoke and toxic gases in case of fire.
3. Battle damage control systems.
4. Fully loaded, she can operate independently at high seas for up to 45 days.

• INS Airavat primarily designed for:

1. Amphibious assault operations
2. Humanitarian assistance & disaster relief (HADR) during natural disasters
3. Stern refuelling for other naval vessels.

• It has a fully functioning hospital on board and a capacity to carry 500 soldiers.